Is steam normal
Discussion
On Sunday I noticed steam coming out from under the bonnet, admitedly the car was hot. Same again yesterday whist virtually not moving in a queue. The dealer says its perfectly normal, and it will start to steam from time to time. Question is though, where is the steam coming from. Chill pills wont work till Ive had the notion of it not being a problem seconded.
Well I never noticed this.
The expanasion tank did blow out some water / steam a couple of times due to an
air lock, but nothing more.
Where about's is the steam, could be a small radiator leak?
Being honest, my first Cerbera, I drove around waiting for it to fail and
always had one hand on the AA card - it never did fail me.
By the second one, I was chilled
and never worried and even left home
without the AA card.
Why is that? I guess because of what we all read and preach on here.

The expanasion tank did blow out some water / steam a couple of times due to an
air lock, but nothing more.
Where about's is the steam, could be a small radiator leak?
Being honest, my first Cerbera, I drove around waiting for it to fail and
always had one hand on the AA card - it never did fail me.
By the second one, I was chilled
and never worried and even left home without the AA card.
Why is that? I guess because of what we all read and preach on here.

When I first start the Tusc up, I get steam about 10 minutes after switching the ignition on in the morning from any rain/dew overnight boiling off. Quite amusing in traffic. Never had this with the Cerb, tho.
If you continue to get this, or if it's doing it when dry, I'd be a bit more worried. Steam obviously = water getting "out of the system". Which means you're losing it from somewhere. Which means something will need topping up...
If you continue to get this, or if it's doing it when dry, I'd be a bit more worried. Steam obviously = water getting "out of the system". Which means you're losing it from somewhere. Which means something will need topping up...
Are you losing coolant anywhere, or is it just a little steam as pressure builds up?
I noticed some steam from my bonnet recently. I had 3 coolant leaks in 2 weeks.
Drained down, fixed one, only to find another. Done now, but I still sometimes see a little steam from rad, and hear hissing when really hot. I guess I got small rad leak.
Thought about using one of those radweld type liquids?
Are they any good, or will it just hold out temporarily until my rad bursts?
I noticed some steam from my bonnet recently. I had 3 coolant leaks in 2 weeks.
Drained down, fixed one, only to find another. Done now, but I still sometimes see a little steam from rad, and hear hissing when really hot. I guess I got small rad leak.
Thought about using one of those radweld type liquids?
Are they any good, or will it just hold out temporarily until my rad bursts?

cerber450 said:Might try this for my leakage, as it does seem to lose quite a bit of water... Never seen any steam mind you...
Open the bonnet when it does it and if the steams coming from the expansion cap (passengers side near the windscreen) then you need a new cap!
There about £5 from Halfwits.
This is the most common problem.
Do you know the part number Craig?
Tripps said:
cerber450 said:
Open the bonnet when it does it and if the steams coming from the expansion cap (passengers side near the windscreen) then you need a new cap!
There about £5 from Halfwits.
This is the most common problem.
Might try this for my leakage, as it does seem to lose quite a bit of water... Never seen any steam mind you...
Do you know the part number Craig?
Believe the expansion tank's a VW-Audi part, from memory. (Could be wrong, mind)
Re. losing water without steam... I'd check the near-side top corner of the radiator for a leak after you've been out for a run. Switch the car off, and check as it's cooling. I ended up using a tube of Araldyte to block that corner of the rad (from the outside). Worked fine.
Wouldn't suggest RadWeld in a Cerb...
J_S_G said:Cheers fella, its going in for some work soon so I'll probably get it looked at then, unless I can find a few daylight hours to investigate myself before then.
Believe the expansion tank's a VW-Audi part, from memory. (Could be wrong, mind)
Re. losing water without steam... I'd check the near-side top corner of the radiator for a leak after you've been out for a run. Switch the car off, and check as it's cooling. I ended up using a tube of Araldyte to block that corner of the rad (from the outside). Worked fine.
Managed to dump three litres on the drive a while back

if it was shortly after you started then mine does that - usually when it rains water tends to be channeled down into the engine bay, then turns into steam.
Anything other than this and I would be worried.
Unfortunately I have to say that I was waiting for the niggles to start ... don't let em get you down though, just remember, your car goes over 190 mph ... though the first time you hit 170 mph you'll find out about how rubbish the bonnet latch is ;-)
Anything other than this and I would be worried.
Unfortunately I have to say that I was waiting for the niggles to start ... don't let em get you down though, just remember, your car goes over 190 mph ... though the first time you hit 170 mph you'll find out about how rubbish the bonnet latch is ;-)
[quote=guydw]if it was shortly after you started then mine does that - usually when it rains water tends to be channeled down into the engine bay, then turns into steam.
Anything other than this and I would be worried./quote]Alas not, it was after a 60 mile M25 run through traffic, so the car was very hot.
Anything other than this and I would be worried./quote]Alas not, it was after a 60 mile M25 run through traffic, so the car was very hot.
Tripps said:
cerber450 said:
Open the bonnet when it does it and if the steams coming from the expansion cap (passengers side near the windscreen) then you need a new cap!
There about £5 from Halfwits.
This is the most common problem.
Might try this for my leakage, as it does seem to lose quite a bit of water... Never seen any steam mind you...
Do you know the part number Craig?
I don't know the part number but I know its from a 2.9 VR6.
The later one as it's rated at a whole 1.5 PSI more!!!!
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). Always thought it was just "damp" coming off! 
