Discussion
Before suspecting the worse check the seal on the cap. Check for air locks in the system. Thermostats normally malfunction open so I would check operation of the electric fans and temp setting that they operate. Check the oil and the coolant for contamination which could indicate head gasget.
Mr Haribo said:
What could steam out the header tank be ???
Thermostat ?
Cap?
Liners? (it is a top hat liner)
Head gasket?
Any ideas ?????
Cheers
Mr H
Without trying to be smart and state the obvious. Steam out the header tank usually means your car is overheating, which could be a result of:Thermostat ?
Cap?
Liners? (it is a top hat liner)
Head gasket?
Any ideas ?????
Cheers
Mr H
Low level of coolant/small coolant loss over a period of time/air in the system.
Flush and fully refill the system taking care to not get any airlocks.
Bridge a link across the otter switch and check the operation of both fans.
Check for leaks on and around all the hoses and the water pump.
Also check your radiator for leaks.
How old is your rad?
Mine had very tiny pin prick holes, which were very difficult to see. Result over a few weeks was a small amount of coolant loss each time i used the car, until eventually the temp would rise and even the fans would not bring it
down. . The expansion tank cap would blow as it is designed to do, and release small amounts of steam and very hot coolant.Once cool i would check the expansion tank and there was no coolant. I would top up on a regular basis, and even carried spare coolant in the boot.
Eventually i got fed up of doing this and A rad re-core sorted my problem.
I did a bit more checking as I had to pop out for dinner !
I should have put in the first post the rad is new so is the fan switch is it cuts in and out ok
and I did get all the air locks out.
on moving the car on my return it had chucked most of the water out too
and thinking on it it only boiled after turning the car off ! and if the the thermostat was nackered would the fans cut in ???
I should have put in the first post the rad is new so is the fan switch is it cuts in and out ok
and I did get all the air locks out.
on moving the car on my return it had chucked most of the water out too
and thinking on it it only boiled after turning the car off ! and if the the thermostat was nackered would the fans cut in ???
Sounds like coolant ran low in the expansion tank. That would draw air into circulation. As that slug of air travels round the system it will occasionally pass into the pump, when that happens the coolant flow stalls causing boiling around the cylinders. That coughs water out through the pressure cap. I doubt there's anything wrong other than a pocket of air that started to circulate.
Refill and prime va the swirl pot. Put the car through a heat cycle then prime again. Repeat until there's no air space in the swirl pot. Don't fill via the expansion pot, it's too low in the system. When cold you shouldn't have more than 1/3 full in the expansion pot as there is a lot of expansion volume to make room for
Refill and prime va the swirl pot. Put the car through a heat cycle then prime again. Repeat until there's no air space in the swirl pot. Don't fill via the expansion pot, it's too low in the system. When cold you shouldn't have more than 1/3 full in the expansion pot as there is a lot of expansion volume to make room for
MSamps said:
roseytvr said:
+1
Don't assume it needs topping up just because it has spewed steam out, it may just be levelling out.
Yep, all cars are different and each have their own preferred level of coolant in the tankDon't assume it needs topping up just because it has spewed steam out, it may just be levelling out.
I only type this because the comment above suggests that it's okay and nothing to worry about. Trust me, if your cold coolant level is right then it is something to worry about.
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