Another potential problem...advice welcome

[ryan.wilkinson]

Right, in addition to my toe rod problem I had another scare this morning. Sitting in a traffic jam and I notice steam coming from the radiator of my s2, this lasted for maybe a minute or two and kind of wafted away. Kept a close on the temp gauge for the rest of the journey and the water temp fluctuated quickly between 89-95 (depending on if I was moving). Got to work and had a look at the radiator and couldnt see anything obvious, colliant levels may have fallen a bit but seem ok. My question is one of logic really, if I had a hole in my radiator then only one in the top would give off steam (side or bottom, the water would drip out??). If there was a hole the steam would be constant?? Therefore, could this have been water dripping on to the radiator from (say) the bonnet?? Anyone had similiar?

[adrianr]

Calm down. Did it rain last night or was there a heavy dew this morning? Either of these will cause rain water to settle in the radiator fins; as the car warms up it evaporates as steam.

TADTS - Move along now, nothing to see here.

AdrianR

[tom_burnley]

Happens to all elises, all the time..

Specially good at pedestrian crossings where people stare 'cos they think your car is going to go bang

[Tim Netherton]

No worries - I was dead scared when it first happened to me,but it was pi**ing down at the time - I think Lotus might call it 'a feature of design'!!

[S Works]

We've all been there dude - at a pedestrian crossing as it starts "snorting" steam up thru the grills... brilliant! Another highlight of the Elise driving experience.

[ryan.wilkinson]

Phewwwww. Thanks guys. This Elise ownership isnt half an adventure!!

[NJS25]

ryan.wilkinson said:

Phewwwww. Thanks guys. This Elise ownership isnt half an adventure!!

Ryan, Interesting weblink?

You be careful with those w's

Regards, Neil

[BermudaBob]

I'm looking forward to when I finally get my Elise - then I shall immediately drive around into the rain and watch the steam...

[Nightmare]

it is cool - very funny when you get concerned motorists of pedestrians leaping over to you to tell you your cars on fire!

[mister kevlar]

Luckily i read about this before i got my elise! so knew it was going to happen...its not so funny when you completely steam up doing 60 on way home from work!

[zebedee]

never had it steam up on the move but it did the steamingnostril thing on the way back from buying it - must admit I did think "what have I let myself in for now" but think it is funny now.

It is water collecting on the cockpit side of the radiator shroud, so usually when you brake (hence it hapens at lights and crossings) the water slides forward onto the radiator at 90 degrees C and there you have it, steam clouds!

Amuses me the number of time this one pops up on the threads!

[mg-max]

Yeah, it happened to me today. 2nd day of owning car.

I shat Myself.

I guessed it was water run off, now I KNOW.

Now I am fine, with new pants.

[zebedee]

hehe - another one! I'd love to actually see it happening to someone for the first time now as I cruise past with a friendly wave and chuckle!