Puma 1.7 brief overheat/steam - what should I check?

[paulyv]

Morning,

My cheap-as-chips Puma 1.7 has had a faulty radiator fan for several weeks and given I live near open roads I was able to avoid any potential overheating. That said, you know what's coming - during a particularly tricky and time-consuming bit of tight parallel parking after a long drive I looked up to see steam coming out the right hand side of the bonnet (where the expansion tank is). The engine was at the usual temperature prior to it getting no moving air whilst I took 5 minutes to park.

Immediately turned the engine off and the steam stopped in about 15 seconds.

Pool of coolant under the car all seemingly from the expansion tank side.

Would any kind souls advise me of what to check, and in what order tomorrow when I have time? I have a track day at Silverstone in 2 weeks and was going to get rid of it after that so am really hoping I avoided anything immediately terminal.

Thanks in advance.

Pauly

[GreenV8S]

Once it is cold, check the coolant level. It might need topping up a little.

[paulyv]

Thanks, yes, there was plenty of coolant left in the tank - it had not gone down much, but I will do that. There was certainly evidence the coolant had been sprayed about a bit under the bonnet as well as the pool forming on the floor under the tank once it had stopped steaming.

I really hope I managed to catch things in time and that the engine can live to fight another day.

[paulyv]

Turns out all is fine - thanks.

[Krikkit]

Had the same thing during an MOT with my Clio 172 - the fan didn't kick in while they were doing the fast tests and overheated, a bit of steam from under the bonnet etc.

Once cooled off it was fine again, it didn't get to the critical point.