Engine temp woes

Author
Discussion

skinnyman

Original Poster:

1,637 posts

93 months

Tuesday 12th September 2017
quotequote all
LS3 R8 btw.

Driving home, engine temp light comes on, so I nurse the car the 1/2 miles to the next services. Pop the bonnet, sod all water in the reservoir. Top it up with 1.5L, let the car sit, fire it up and it's back to normal again, so off I go. Mile down the road, the light comes back on, 10 secs later, the needle is back down to just below half again, then fluctuates between half and 3/4 for the last mile of my journey.

Had a look under the bonnet again once home, and the reservoir was still full. On the right of the engine bay the coolant pipe coming out the right hand side of the radiator there looks to be a small slit in the pipe. Up until last week it had some crappy aftermarket induction kit on it, I took that off and swapped it for a standard one. My guess is that induction pipe had melted the coolant pipe slightly, but it never actually leaked due to being pressed against it, now it's gone the water is free to escape. However, could this slit be enough to drop the pressure in the system sufficiently to cause the 'engine temp' light to come on, even with plenty of coolant in the system?

Second question, how easy are the coolant pipes to get hold of? Is it something Vauxhall are likely to have in stock? I'm supposed to be driving to the airport early next week.

jet_noise

5,645 posts

182 months

Wednesday 13th September 2017
quotequote all
skinnyman said:
LS3 R8 btw.

Driving home, engine temp light comes on, so I nurse the car the 1/2 miles to the next services. Pop the bonnet, sod all water in the reservoir. Top it up with 1.5L, let the car sit, fire it up and it's back to normal again, so off I go. Mile down the road, the light comes back on, 10 secs later, the needle is back down to just below half again, then fluctuates between half and 3/4 for the last mile of my journey.

Had a look under the bonnet again once home, and the reservoir was still full. On the right of the engine bay the coolant pipe coming out the right hand side of the radiator there looks to be a small slit in the pipe. Up until last week it had some crappy aftermarket induction kit on it, I took that off and swapped it for a standard one. My guess is that induction pipe had melted the coolant pipe slightly, but it never actually leaked due to being pressed against it, now it's gone the water is free to escape. However, could this slit be enough to drop the pressure in the system sufficiently to cause the 'engine temp' light to come on, even with plenty of coolant in the system?

Second question, how easy are the coolant pipes to get hold of? Is it something Vauxhall are likely to have in stock? I'm supposed to be driving to the airport early next week.
Just because it's full in the reservoir doesn't mean the system is full - airlocks!
That's a general comment, not specific to our cars.

skinnyman

Original Poster:

1,637 posts

93 months

Wednesday 13th September 2017
quotequote all
Well I went out this morning, checked the fluid levels in the rad, thats fine. Ran the car for 10-15mins up to temp, no leaks I can see, so went out for a drive. Was out 20mins or so, went down the A38 to simulate when the problem hit yesterday, all was fine, some spirited driving on the way home, again all fine, needle remained at just below half all the way around. When I got back though, I noticed this on the undertray beneath the rad:



Could this be a sign that the rad itself is leaking?

skinnyman

Original Poster:

1,637 posts

93 months

Wednesday 13th September 2017
quotequote all
Update, just pulled the car onto my inclined drive, defo a leak down there, looks like new radiator time. Relatively simple job?

Superhans_

155 posts

92 months

Wednesday 13th September 2017
quotequote all
Never add cold water to a warm engine. If you suspect overheating turn off the engine immediately then come to a stop.

robbyd

599 posts

175 months

Wednesday 13th September 2017
quotequote all
simple job - just get the right rad.

skinnyman

Original Poster:

1,637 posts

93 months

Thursday 14th September 2017
quotequote all
Bah, £600 from Walkinshaw!

Ah well, needs must! Getting under the car properly tomorrow in the vain hope it's a split hose down there, but unlikely. If it is the rad I'll get it ordered tomorrow and fitted over the weekend. Any particularly coolant/antifreeze recommended?

skinnyman

Original Poster:

1,637 posts

93 months

Thursday 14th September 2017
quotequote all
Question time, how do I remove the rad without removing the A.C. condenser? Assuming that's what the smaller rad looking thing in front of the rad is.