Water levels....silly question

[Daston]

Hi guys

How do you check the coolant level on the tuscan? Should the coolant be right up to the cap? Went to check mine at the weekend and the elbow from the cap was bone dry, however my temps have been stable around 80 - 90

[jeast]

I believe the manual states that there shold be 10mm visible in at the bottom of the filler pipe.

[tcant]

I was told to fill it no higher than the elbow. I can normally just see the coolant at the bottom of the elbow on mine. If I fill it any higher than that, when it gets hot, it normally comes out through the cap until it gets to the right level.

[Daston]

hmm ok will top it up a little bit

[Zippee]

Mine (though on a T350) is normally about half way up, so just below the elbow. More importantly it is consistantly there!

[RPE11Y]

tcant said:

I was told to fill it no higher than the elbow. I can normally just see the coolant at the bottom of the elbow on mine. If I fill it any higher than that, when it gets hot, it normally comes out through the cap until it gets to the right level.

Ditto - as long as I can see a trace of coolant when cold it seems ok - tried taking it up a bit a couple of times and it just dumped it when hot.

Edited by RPE11Y on Tuesday 30th June 21:39

[shep1001]

Daston said:

Hi guys

How do you check the coolant level on the tuscan? Should the coolant be right up to the cap? Went to check mine at the weekend and the elbow from the cap was bone dry, however my temps have been stable around 80 - 90

Assuming you don't have the expansion tank mod.... When I topped up waiting for the rad to be replaced I would fill so I could feel liquid in the swirl pot when I put my finger in. If there is slightly too much it will just vent off through the PRV in the cap when hot (you will see the steam/splatter marks on the inside of the bonnet).

Now with the new Rad, I have a wooden spoon with a notch cut in it that sits in the neck of the filler. The level is just above the elbow to the engine just as you describe.

Shep

Edited by shep1001 on Tuesday 30th June 22:49

[WhyTwo]

I'm becoming a bit of a subject matter expert in Tuscan cooling systems - despite a number of attempts by leading TVR specialists to resolve the issue of overheating it's still a problem and has been since December.

Anyway, on route to Le Mans my temp shot up from 90 - 115 in the space of about 2 minutes and then let off a load of steam. When I checked the filler there was 5 mil or so in there, normal I thought. Having called TVR Power I was told that a residual amount of coolant will almost always be seen in the elbow. The only way to acurately check is to remove the bonnet and squeeze the rad hose. If the coolant rises in the elbow the level is OK, if not it needs filling until you can make it rise by squeezing the hose. If you over fill it it'll release the excess and find it's own level.

I got 5 litres in by the side of the road This was perhaps 350 - 400 miles after the cooling system issue was 'fixed' by a TVR specialist. Subsequent cooling system pressure tests revealed no leaks (15 PSI) and a block test showed no problems with the head. I think there maybe a problem with the fan sensors although they were replaced in Jan so as a temporary fix I unplugged the sensor so the fans run permanently. It lost 1 litre on the 350 mile return journey from Le Mans, I wish somebody could tell me where the water is going as it's driving me nuts I have no faith in the reliability of my Tuscan and am seriously losing the faith.

Sorry for high jacking the thread to some extent but I need to vent my frustration and see if anyone has any ideas. And this is not a dig at the TVR guys who've tried to fix it as I know it can be caused by any number of things and it's a process of elimination

[Whitey]

It's fixable. Take it back to who has attempted to fix it and ask them if they can fix it, if they cannot take it elsewhere. It's not rocket science and there is nothing tricky involved in the Tuscan system.

[tcant]

Whytwo, I had a similar problem in that coolant kept getting dumped out of the cap even though I had only filled it to the elbow. After several visits to the specialist and various new caps it was still doing it. I was putting litres and litres of coolant into it after every trip. After losing all faith, I returned it for a final time and said I didn't want it back until it was fixed. It turned out the head gasket had gone. I hope that isn't your problem as it was an expensive fix (but has been perfect ever since)!

[WhyTwo]

Hi Tony. Thanks for your input. The plan is to drop it off at Power and let them keep it until fixed. I was thinking it could be a head gasket but whilst at Le Mans a UK breakdwon recovery company did a head test to see if that was the problem and the result was negative. Apparently these tests are pretty fool proof so fingers crossed it's not that although part of me would be relieved to have found the problem

[Tuscan Chick]

Why 2, was the pressure test on the block and head done with the engine hot or cold?
It can make a BIG difference.
It does sound like a head gasket has gone though - not what you want to hear, I'm sure.

[jvr]

Its more than likely the head gasket,it can leak directly from the water chambers into the cylinders hence not showing up in the oil or visa versa.It will not smoke either and run fine but you do tend to lose confidence in taking it anywhere.To change a gasket is about 2 grand.
HTH
Paul

[WhyTwo]

Block test was done with the engine running IIRC. The engine wasn't at full operating temperature but wasn't stone cold as it had been running on and off for about 1/2 hour whilst we were trying to get the fans on.

Anyone have an opinion on whether a head gasket would be covered under warranty after a full top and bottom rebuild? I fear I may be clutching at straws here but it's worth asking I guess

[Daston]

WhyTwo said:

Block test was done with the engine running IIRC. The engine wasn't at full operating temperature but wasn't stone cold as it had been running on and off for about 1/2 hour whilst we were trying to get the fans on.

Anyone have an opinion on whether a head gasket would be covered under warranty after a full top and bottom rebuild? I fear I may be clutching at straws here but it's worth asking I guess

I would have throught so as they would have had to change the headgasket when they put the head back onto the bottom end shirly

[WhyTwo]

I won't get too carried away here but I'm liking the cut of your jib, so to speak. My rebuild was done less than 2 years ago and according to the invoice included a head gasket replacement so is still under warranty - fingers, toes, eyes and anything else crossed ...

It would help if I had more technical knowledge though as if it proves necessary I couldn't argue that it should or shouldn't be covered. Again any help from those of a technical persuasion is much appreciated

Edited by WhyTwo on Thursday 2nd July 10:00

[Tuscan Chick]

Have you got the T&C's of the warranty?
Who is the warranty with?

[WhyTwo]

I've read the T's&C's of the warranty and it specifically mentions the cylinder head gasket as being covered and also says it covers all items listed in the invoice, which also includes the head gasket. I've complied with all the servcing requirements and it's still well within the mileage and time period.

I'm not going to go into details of who did the rebuild and/or who the warranty is with.

Lets hope it's not a head gasket but if it is I'd like to think it's covered