Cooling Symptons. . . & choo choo sounds

[Digger]

I'm guessing I need to check the coolant levels in the morning. . .


After a blat again, and cruising back in to 20ish minutes of heavy traffic, every now & again she started spewing smallish amounts of steam/smoke (couldn't decipher which) and making rhythmical speed-related steam-escaping noises, exactly like a steam train! If the fans hadn't kicked in I pressed the override switch as people were noticing vague trails of whatever it was that was escaping.

I believe there is a pressure release valve. Does it work in this fashion or is there a more constant release?t

Something else was that the temp dial was getting up to 110-115. When finally parking up, I switched off the engine but left the ignition on, so that the fan remained on. Temp stayed at 115 but did not recede! After approximately 3mins I switched off and immediately switched on the ignition. Temp now displayed about 95, with the fan coming on. Left the fan to run until it went off after about 90 seconds.

Currently having a read-up of both the manual as well as Mr Heaths tome.

. . . & like I said will check the coolant levels in the morning!

[5.0ltr]

Not a good engine to overheat.
http://www.robisonservice.com/articles/RonR_march2...

[Digger]

I doubt any engine enjoys it . . .

[TVR Beaver]

maybe get the top up bottel checked for gas also how rythmic was the sound?... in line with the rev's of the engine or every 30 seconds or so.

[Digger]

It was related to the speed of the car, not revs.

Not sure what you mean when you refer to gas.

[5.0ltr]

Digger said:

Not sure what you mean when you refer to gas.

when the head gasket goes, or heads warp the exhaust gases get into the water in the block which can be checked in the expansion tank.

[Digger]

Well that will teach me to be much more diligent to check coolant levels.

She just swallowed up several litres of water. I've just run her about for 5 minutes and will check the expansion tank level once she's cooled down!

Edited by Digger on Thursday 6th June 12:32

[Digger]

Just to clarify I haven't added any antifreeze to the mix! Should I ideally have added 50/50 water/antifreeze. Guess its not an issue as yet, as its supposedly 'summer'.

[Colin RedGriff]

Yes you need to add antifreeze it also prevents the alloy block from corroding

[EGB]

The blue cap on the expansion tank is meant to let off steam if water boils. Fill up via swirl pot with 50/50 water antifreeze.

[Digger]

Alrighty. . . thanks chaps.

I've just placed an order with OpieOils for some Mobil1 0-40 for the boot. Anyone use them for antifreeze? Lots of choice!

[PeteGriff]

Digger said:

I'm guessing I need to check the coolant levels in the morning. . .


After a blat again, and cruising back in to 20ish minutes of heavy traffic, every now & again she started spewing smallish amounts of steam/smoke (couldn't decipher which) and making rhythmical speed-related steam-escaping noises, exactly like a steam train! If the fans hadn't kicked in I pressed the override switch as people were noticing vague trails of whatever it was that was escaping.

I believe there is a pressure release valve. Does it work in this fashion or is there a more constant release?t

Something else was that the temp dial was getting up to 110-115. When finally parking up, I switched off the engine but left the ignition on, so that the fan remained on. Temp stayed at 115 but did not recede! After approximately 3mins I switched off and immediately switched on the ignition. Temp now displayed about 95, with the fan coming on. Left the fan to run until it went off after about 90 seconds.

Currently having a read-up of both the manual as well as Mr Heaths tome.

. . . & like I said will check the coolant levels in the morning!

Hi Digger, naughty boy, stand in the corner for an hour...... Always check your coolant and oil levels regularly, I check mine at least once a week and always before a reasonable run. I would be concerned though if that much coolant was leaking out! I have only put a very small amount in my 430 since fitting new rad and hoses last April. Check thoroughly for leaks, particularly at the sides of the rad where the core in sealed in, look underneath through the intake grill to see if there is any seeping of coolant. On the subject of coolant; always put in a mix NOT just water, it contains a corrosion inhibitor and these aluminium engines need that. Use a high quality high spec type, and make sure it is OK for aluminium engines. All the best, Pete

[Digger]

I did wake up this morning feeling a bit crap as though I may have done some serious damage to her. But having topped her up and added some of the below antifreeze she seems to be back in rude health.

When topping up via the upper tank should coolant eventually appear in the expansion tank as I filled it up to the top and nothing appeared in the expansion tank?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Idle issues seem to have been resolved. Could that have been related to the low coolant levels?

Edited by Digger on Saturday 25th May 16:49

[rigga]

Idle issues were probably down to temperature issues rather than coolant levels as the ecu won't know how much coolant is present, but might know if the engine is getting hot due to emissions readings via the lambda sensors? Regarding levels the swirl pot should be full, and when the coolant gets hot and expands it should transfer into the expansion tank with the blue cap on top, as the coolant contracts when cooling it then should return to the swirl pot, I now regularly check the swirl pot for levels and not the expansion as when i had overheating issues due to a leaking rad, I found the hole at the base of that expansion tank was blocked as its not that large and crud had blocked it up, so whilst the expansion tank level was good, it had no relation to what was the actual level in the swirl pot.Topping the coolant up at the swirl pot won't fill up the expansion tank as the hose that joins the two is high up at the uppermost level of the swirl pot, fill up the swirl pot first, then add coolant to the expansion tank to about two thirds up, this will though usually find its own level after a run, so no need to keep adding.

[Digger]

Thanks for that Martin, that's useful and makes sense, even to me. In my ignorance that is actually what I have just done. Initially i thought filling the swirl tank to the top might have been the wrong thing to have done.

So one more run and a check should show me the natural level in the expansion tank methinks.

Thanks All. Much appreciated.

[rigga]

Ill just add a pic of my blocked expansion tank, just to make people aware

[fausTVR]

Good idea while the swirlpot top is off, to slightly undo the bleed bolt at the top offside of the rad just until the coolant appears (this releases trapped wind) and then nip up and brim swirlpot. At least that's how it goes on my Chim anyhoo.

[fausTVR]

rigga said:

Ill just add a pic of my blocked expansion tank, just to make people aware

For a long time I was convinced my rad was leaking and was on the verge of sourcing a replacement when I found this joint leaking and spraying the base of the rad, happy days. Took it out and the hole was like yours also. Always worth a good rummage about.

[Loubaruch]

I would also check that the tube linking the swirl tank to the expansion tank is not blocked I had quite a shock when investigating my overheating problem:

http://www.bertram-hill.co.uk/Pages/grifcooling.as...

[rigga]

It's a good idea to remove the pipe at the swirl pot and blow through into the expansion tank and look for bubbles, and the other way into the swirl pot to check all is clear.