Steaming Maserati

[Popeyed]

My 3200GT has always had a thirst for coolant but things are getting worse, with steam now emanating from under the bonnet as the temperature gauge hits 190 degrees prior to the fans kicking in and cooling things down.

Despite looking I've not been able to pin down the steam source; do I therefore opt for the Radweld treatment, or is a pressure test a possible to find out the source of the leak?

Any advice welcome!

[Soovy]

RADWELD!?




190 DEGREES?!!




Get it to a dealer before you RUIN it.

[identity_crisis]

if your losing coolant but cant find a leak anywhere it could be your head gasket thats gone. do you get white smoke out of the exhaust....

check the oil filler cap for mayonaise and see what colour your coolant is....

like soovy says get it to a dealer or reputable garage asap.

[AngryApples]

The nominations for Scariest thread of 09'.......

[Popeyed]

Hey guys, 190 degree fahrenheight, i.e the middle of the gauge, car runs a treat apart from the odd bit of steam prior to the fan kicking in.

Edited to add the coolant is coolant colour and no white smoke, has always used coolant, now just more so, with steam from the radiator prior to the fan kicking in.

Edited to add again the steam is from the drivers side of the radiator, but beyond the plastic etc. so I cannot see exactly where it's coming from.

Edited by Popeyed on Sunday 22 March 18:45

Edited by Popeyed on Sunday 22 March 18:51

[AndrewW-G]

Have seen a few 3200's Qp's and Ghibli's that do this, would the steam be coming from the drivers side of the bonnet/rad?.........if so then you have a slight leak where the ends of the radiator are joined to the core

[Popeyed]

AndrewW-G said:

Have seen a few 3200's Qp's and Ghibli's that do this, would the steam be coming from the drivers side of the bonnet/rad?.........if so then you have a slight leak where the ends of the radiator are joined to the core

Thanks Andrew, the steam indeed is from the drivers side of the radiator, am I need a trip to the dealer or will radweld suffice for now ?!

[AndrewW-G]

Radweld will work, but if it was my car and I had something else to use during the week, I'd pull the radiator out and pack it off to be tested and possibly reconditioned

[Bath of Kylies]

Check out bullet number 9 on the Maserati section of this link http://www.cars.robertsaerospace.com/index.htm

Had Mike fix my radiator for this problem - was getting small puffs of steam from the drivers side when sitting in traffic - sounds like your problem could be similar.

Edited by Bath of Kylies on Monday 23 March 09:15

Edited by Bath of Kylies on Monday 23 March 09:16