Steam

[Slider21]

Hi all, fitted a new rad a few weeks ago and all went well, first spirited drive today and temps all good, as I slowed for traffic lights a medium quantity of steam came out of the vents in the bonnet, checked temp all ok 80deg pulled over lifted bonnet and all was ok, checked level when cool enough and that was spot on.

Has not done it since

Any ideas it's a 93 with no expansion tank just the swirl pot.

Thanks Neil.

[jojackson4]

Steam and not white smoke

[QBee]

Any puddles before you slowed? I get that sometimes on start up, just damp under the bonnet getting on the manifolds

[Trevor450]

Serp or preserp? The serpentine cars don't like too much coolant in the expansion tank and will spit any excess out which would result in steam.

As mentioned above, they can also steam due to moisture on the radiator burning off.

[Slider21]

I am sure it was steam , can't see any oil leaks that would cause that much, I had been on a long run so I would have thought any moisture would have evaporated , it a pre serp so no expansion tank.

I had just been giving it the beans, could the swirl pot cap have let some pressure out, I suppose there might have been a little air in the system from fitting the new rad.

[QBee]

Slider21 said:

I am sure it was steam , can't see any oil leaks that would cause that much, I had been on a long run so I would have thought any moisture would have evaporated , it a pre serp so no expansion tank.

I had just been giving it the beans, could the swirl pot cap have let some pressure out, I suppose there might have been a little air in the system from fitting the new rad.

I honestly think that's what it was. I was worried when I got steam on start up, but I have also lost no water and have had the rad out - no leaks. I concluded that it was just a small amount of water getting onto something hot and coming out of the obvious upwards exit. Cold air makes steam more obvious.

Just keep an eye.....

[Slider21]

QBee said:

Slider21 said:

I am sure it was steam , can't see any oil leaks that would cause that much, I had been on a long run so I would have thought any moisture would have evaporated , it a pre serp so no expansion tank.

I had just been giving it the beans, could the swirl pot cap have let some pressure out, I suppose there might have been a little air in the system from fitting the new rad.

I honestly think that's what it was. I was worried when I got steam on start up, but I have also lost no water and have had the rad out - no leaks. I concluded that it was just a small amount of water getting onto something hot and coming out of the obvious upwards exit. Cold air makes steam more obvious.

Just keep an eye.....

Thanks only had the car a few weeks so still getting used to it.

[chimyellow]

I have found that mine has a preferred water level which is different to the two inches from the top that the manual suggests.
I spent the first few months adding water every time I checked it.
Then after I had stopped panicking and waited to see it just found its own water level and it has been fine (baring radiators going!) ever since.

[chim666]

chimyellow said:

I have found that mine has a preferred water level which is different to the two inches from the top that the manual suggests.
I spent the first few months adding water every time I checked it.
Then after I had stopped panicking and waited to see it just found its own water level and it has been fine (baring radiators going!) ever since.

I've had my Chim since 2002 and it's happy with the coolant level around the seam in the expansion tank (i.e. about half-way).
If you fill it too much, the coolant will blow out when hot.

[plangston]

I was told by fernhurst when I got mine to fill it when cold up to the weld, which is half way up.

[chimyellow]

plangston said:

I was told by fernhurst when I got mine to fill it when cold up to the weld, which is half way up.

I would agree, mine is happy just below the half way weld.