steam from header tank when engine hot

[wongthecorrupter]

Now and then i get a bit off water/steam escape out off my header tank when the water temp gets up and im stuck in traffic ,anybody else have the same experience.It normally happens if i have topped up the coolant i do think its just the coolant finding its level, what you reckon.Cheers

[Basil Brush]

Might be worth swapping the cap if it's been on a while and make sure it's a genuine VW one. The pattern replacements aren't up to the job.

[wongthecorrupter]

Basil Brush said:

Might be worth swapping the cap if it's been on a while and make sure it's a genuine VW one. The pattern replacements aren't up to the job.

Thanks mate will do

[jeast]

As you state this happens after you've topped up the water it sounds more like it is just finding its own level by expelling excess water via the cap when hot and is therefore nothing to worry about. However, if it occurs even when you have not filled up then the cap would be the first thing I'd check.

[wongthecorrupter]

jeast said:

As you state this happens after you've topped up the water it sounds more like it is just finding its own level by expelling excess water via the cap when hot and is therefore nothing to worry about. However, if it occurs even when you have not filled up then the cap would be the first thing I'd check.

I think its finding its level after filling but i will put a new cap on the old girl

[V8 GRF]

Sounds to me like you're overfilling the system.

Although there are 'average' levels often quoted here each car finds it's own level and the fact it seems to happen when you've topped the system up I suspect you're correct in surmising the car is dumping excess coolant.

Resist the temptation to fill the header tank and keep an eye on your temps, if all is well then check where the level is when the system is cold and then maintain the level at that point.

[wongthecorrupter]

V8 GRF said:

Sounds to me like you're overfilling the system.

Although there are 'average' levels often quoted here each car finds it's own level and the fact it seems to happen when you've topped the system up I suspect you're correct in surmising the car is dumping excess coolant.

Resist the temptation to fill the header tank and keep an eye on your temps, if all is well then check where the level is when the system is cold and then maintain the level at that point.

I never had problems with cooling i think it was just in my head for the tank to be full

[justyr]

I get exactly the same. The natural level for my car is just with a tiny amount of fluid seen in the L section of the header tank. If I top it up from there it just spits it out again, but occasionally I do put a small amount in just to check the natural level is unchanged. JR

[wongthecorrupter]

justyr said:

I get exactly the same. The natural level for my car is just with a tiny amount of fluid seen in the L section of the header tank. If I top it up from there it just spits it out again, but occasionally I do put a small amount in just to check the natural level is unchanged. JR

Thanks my car isnt broken then

[geoffphead]

wongthecorrupter said:

Now and then i get a bit off water/steam escape out off my header tank when the water temp gets up and im stuck in traffic ,anybody else have the same experience.It normally happens if i have topped up the coolant i do think its just the coolant finding its level, what you reckon.Cheers

Yup my S does the same ,try topping up with same bottle mine takes 2litres and spits one of them out!!
it a pita. I will have bonnet conversion done and put the header kit on when I get the time and money !!

[wongthecorrupter]

geoffphead said:

Yup my S does the same ,try topping up with same bottle mine takes 2litres and spits one of them out!!
it a pita. I will have bonnet conversion done and put the header kit on when I get the time and money !!

Sounds like a plan