Cooling system problem - slipped liner?

[The Red Baron]

While driving yesterday on a long drive (German autobahn) I had to stop after I noticed a problem with the cooling system. The temp was steady at 80ish and there was no overheating involved, but it appears the expansion tank pressure cap decided to release. I got a trail of steam behind the car which stopped after 10 secs, and when I stopped there was steam from under the bonnet and pools of coolant everywhere. By the time I got the bonnet open though I think the cap had stopped venting.

I let it cool down and drove to a nearby service station and had a better look. I topped up the level and checked for leaks etc (could see any). I ran the car till the fans cut in, which they did at 90ish and cut out again. Everything seems to be ok, but I'm in the middle of Germany and have a long way to go today, and the weather isn't great, so I want to be as sure as possible.

Anyway, my major concern is that its a head gasket problem or a slipped liner. I don't have any mayo on the oil cap or dipstick, so I'm reasonably sure its not letting fluid in there.

But how do I know if it isn't a slipped liner? The engine runs fine at idle, but I haven't had the chance to drive much since.

What are the symptoms of a slipped liner? Is it accompanied by rough running or the engine mis firing?

As I'm new to the car and TVRs I don't yet know what is normal and what isn't. I hope someone can help. Thanks in advance.

[zippy500]

You may just have had too much water in the system. So its pushed its way out.
Trouble is with leaks is they can be micorscopic splits, but pressurised steam will find a way out. But you may not see it.
I think you would know by sight and sound if you had either of the causes you mention.

Check the oil filler cap for any mayo looking gunk.

Edited by zippy500 on Tuesday 17th February 11:28

[spend]

Try a new pressure cap, many feel they are never the same again after they have been 'activated' a few times. Luckily they are common old VW Rabbit parts so you should have no trouble finding one in Germany

[wedgienauld]

If you've topped up the system after a major release of coolant you must vent the air from the system. You should also now replace your blue cap as it will be shagged. Don,nt attempt to take the car out on the open road just yet - you may get yourself stranded.

Lets just put the option of a slipped liner aside for now and consider a dodgy water pump/ perished hose or hoses. Top up your system with water/ anti-freeze. Do it slowly and do not over fill the system - your header tank should be no fuller than half full, allowing for expansion of liquids fill the expansion tank 1/3rd full. Run you engine, and vent your expansion tank of air once or twice. Top up as necessary - don,nt rush. Allow to settle. Squeeze your main radiator hoses to assist venting of air. Keep your face away from hot water and when undoing the vent cap always ensure you have a tea towel or something similar well wrapped over it. Bonnet open, stand by with a torch and observe the water pump/ front cover area for leaks. If this area is the culprit then you'll see soon enough. If you don,nt have the time etc. Then take your motor to a competent workshop have them do a pressure test of your system and analysis of your coolant.

Patience - one step at a time. Good luck .

[spend]

Check out the new V8d website - Looks like Rob may have incorporated paragraphs from his forthcoming book (little teaser there maybe ).

There is a section on testing for slipped liner / porous blocks which answers all your questions

[The Red Baron]

Thanks to all for your sage advice. After following wegienauld's procedure all looked ok, no leaks at idle. So I let the engine warm up properly then gave it a few revs. Suddenly I had water everywhere again, sitting in pools on the 'V' of the engine and dripping under the car - eeek.

Got it towed (loaded on a flat bed) to a boutique sports car garage that had Porsches everywhere outside (nice to know they break too!). Fortunately the owner spoke English and knew TVRs and the Griffith. Turns out it was a leaking 'bridge' gasket?! He's fixing it as I write this and I should be back on the road this afternoon. God knows where he got the replacement gasket from but... God bless German efficiency!

If anyone knows what the 'bridge' gasket is and where it is and what it does, I'm very keen to find out. Has anyone else had the same or similar issue?

[spend]

Sounds like the inlet manifold valley gasket (inlet manifold bridges the vee). Can't believe that a thermostat gasket would splat water backwards as you described. There are plenty of Land Rovers in Germany, maybe even easier since some Ford dealerships were added to the parts supply chain;)

[rev-erend]

That can be the problem with reading forums like this .. you hear of unusual problems and assume your must be the same .. and there are more often than not more mundane and cheap problems that are actually the issue.

[The Red Baron]

I've just got the car back. All is well again. It was the manifold valley gasket. They made up a new one.

In true German style they cleaned the car inide and out and had a go at polishing out the scratch on the nose (kindly given to me by a Dutch woman who didn't look as she parked her big 4x4 - but that's a different story.) The work cost €400 - could have been a lot worse.

spend, do you have a web address for the new V8d website you mentioned?

[spend]

Its http://www.v8developments.co.uk/

Spoke to Rob today, and its not a sampler of his book, but all Sean's work apparently The book is still on the way, I assured him we all wanted a copy, so letters off to Santa nice & early chaps (Cobwebbs Farm, N Pole, Spalding)