T350 Running HOT + Bleed Point - HELP!

[buckster]

Hello,

Only owned my T350 for a few weeks now, however, I may have over filled the collant a couple weeks back, got a bit of steam coming out the expansion cap thing but the level has sorted iteself now, sitting about half way up the swirl pot and no more steam.

However, I have noticed the water temp is up and running hot, around 105 degrees in town and sitting in traffic with the oil at about 100 as well. During a long journey the water drops to middle 80's and the oil a little less.

I have cehcked that both fans are coming in (around about 100 degrees) but the water temp (and oil) still seems a little high.

Someone mentioned I may need to bleed the system, I posted this question up a week or so ago but still can't find the bleed point. As a big favour, could someone send me instructions and a quick camera phone picture on where this bleed point is - this would be much appreciate, thanks!!

Any comments on the temps my TVR is running would be good, cheers!

B.....

[5yearstobuyatvr]

It could also be false readings via your temperature water sensors I replaced a couple under the black cover by Track V Road and problem sorted.

[FrancoTam]

The sensors are not expensive and are quite common to go wrong so it may be worth changing them anyway. The temps are a little high. When the first fan on mine that cuts in around 96 it slows the temp rising but when the second cuts in at 98 it will reduce the temp!

[KillerJim]

buckster said:

the expansion cap thing but the level has sorted iteself now, sitting about half way up the swirl pot and no more steam.

Just to get things straight.. do you mean the water is half-way up the expansion tank? (blue cap) The swirl tank is the tall tank at the front of the engine. I keep my expansion tank full enough I can feel it with my finger in the top.

buckster said:

However, I have noticed the water temp is up and running hot, around 105 degrees in town and sitting in traffic with the oil at about 100 as well. During a long journey the water drops to middle 80's and the oil a little less.

My Sagaris normally runs at 70c to 80c water, 85c max in traffic with the fans kicking in at 76c usually (only one is working at the minute)

The oil never gets more than 80c in traffic, usually 70c on normal driving - way down on the motorway due to cold air flow around the oil sensor.

However, as the guys said the sensors aren`t that accurate - you might want to replace both the oil and water temperature sensors. I suspect you could stick a (sealed) digitial temperature probe in the oil or water to see what real temperature it is once you`ve stopped..

If you look down at the radiators (assuming its the same as the Sagaris) you`ll see two pipes leading into/out of the radiators. On the metal section you`ll see two allen/hex screws. These are you bleed points (and bloody hard to move if stiff).. When I was shown you should keep the blue cap on, take the swirl bolt off and bleed slowly from each. Then fill up the swirl pot til it overflows and screw back on the bolt..

James

[malman]

KillerJim said:

buckster said:

the expansion cap thing but the level has sorted iteself now, sitting about half way up the swirl pot and no more steam.

Just to get things straight.. do you mean the water is half-way up the expansion tank? (blue cap) The swirl tank is the tall tank at the front of the engine. I keep my expansion tank full enough I can feel it with my finger in the top.

Not all T350s have the twin tank setup. I think it was standard on the later ones (post 2004) but has be retrofitted to a number of earlier models. He may only have the alloy tank in front of the engine with a blue cap on it.

[buckster]

Hi....

Yes, that's correct, I don't have the addiitonal expansion tank, mine is a 2003 model.

Got home last night, water was at 107 degrees, drove into my garage and water was just pouring from the expansion cap which was obviously turning to steam :-(

I did notice the fans were not running....

I have called the warranty people, car being collected today and sent to TVR Dreadnought in Perth. Chatted to one of the guys late afternoon, is expecting it to be either the fans or a sensor (as pointed out).

Do you think any damage would have been caused to the engine when it was running this hot?

Thanks again.

[FrancoTam]

There shouldn't be any damage caused as the equivilent of a red line for water temp is 114 I think!
Good luck and let us know what they come back with.

[buckster]

Hi..

Collecting the car from Dreadnought TVR today, was fixed in less than an hour, related to the temp sensor (as pointed out) which was runnig at 10 degrees less than actual engine temp hence why the fans not kicking in, collant starting to boil and blow the pressure on the expansion cap.

They checked out the rest of the car, said it was very clean, no oil or water leaks and engine is sounding spot on.

Can't wait to collect it later today!

Thanks for all the advice!