Cooling Problems
Discussion
Hoping for some advice............
I took my S2 to the Le Mans Classic last weekend - had a great time and it ran really well apart from cooling issues.
The engine would warm up ok and at speed (70 mph+) was fine but in traffic (after about 1 to 1.5 hours) it would slowly climb to the bottom of the red (and a couple of times a bit further). I managed to drive around it, using rest stops so it did not become a serious issue (apart from running in slow traffic in 38 degree heat with the heater on!) but it did take the edge off the weekend a little as I was always looking at the temperature gauge.
We tried everything from swapping caps around, taking out the thermostat, checking fan and checking that there were no airlocks.
I got back yesterday and it ocurred to me that there is a pre-heater system on the car, including an aluminium 'box' (about 5" cubed) that sits right behind the cooling fan (which always kicked in when needed btw).
Has anyone any experience of these as I have never used mine (always garaged)? I am thinking that it may be best to bypass the pre-heater as it must pick up heat from the fan and in extreme heat and on a long run, could be the cause of my problem.
I took my S2 to the Le Mans Classic last weekend - had a great time and it ran really well apart from cooling issues.
The engine would warm up ok and at speed (70 mph+) was fine but in traffic (after about 1 to 1.5 hours) it would slowly climb to the bottom of the red (and a couple of times a bit further). I managed to drive around it, using rest stops so it did not become a serious issue (apart from running in slow traffic in 38 degree heat with the heater on!) but it did take the edge off the weekend a little as I was always looking at the temperature gauge.
We tried everything from swapping caps around, taking out the thermostat, checking fan and checking that there were no airlocks.
I got back yesterday and it ocurred to me that there is a pre-heater system on the car, including an aluminium 'box' (about 5" cubed) that sits right behind the cooling fan (which always kicked in when needed btw).
Has anyone any experience of these as I have never used mine (always garaged)? I am thinking that it may be best to bypass the pre-heater as it must pick up heat from the fan and in extreme heat and on a long run, could be the cause of my problem.
whitney44 said:
Hoping for some advice............
The engine would warm up ok and at speed (70 mph+) was fine but in traffic (after about 1 to 1.5 hours) it would slowly climb to the bottom of the red (and a couple of times a bit further).
The engine would warm up ok and at speed (70 mph+) was fine but in traffic (after about 1 to 1.5 hours) it would slowly climb to the bottom of the red (and a couple of times a bit further).
whitney44 said:
cooling fan (which always kicked in when needed btw)
Sounds normal to mewhitney44 said:
it ocurred to me that there is a pre-heater system on the car
What is a pre heater system?Norman
Hi Norman,
Yes the fan kicked in as per normal but it did not drop the temperature back down from the red.
The pre heater is an electric device, plugged into the mains from an underbonnet socket. This warms the water in the cooling system before you start the engine (via the box I descibed), meaning the car is toasty on cold winter days. I suspect the pre heater box, because it is situated right behind the cooling fan, is then putting back heat into the cooling system that has been sucked out of the rad by the fan. With high temperatures and slow traffic at the weekend, it has sent the gauge a little too high for conmfort...
Simon.
Yes the fan kicked in as per normal but it did not drop the temperature back down from the red.
The pre heater is an electric device, plugged into the mains from an underbonnet socket. This warms the water in the cooling system before you start the engine (via the box I descibed), meaning the car is toasty on cold winter days. I suspect the pre heater box, because it is situated right behind the cooling fan, is then putting back heat into the cooling system that has been sucked out of the rad by the fan. With high temperatures and slow traffic at the weekend, it has sent the gauge a little too high for conmfort...
Simon.
See if you can get hold of a cooling system pressure tester - if it isn't holding pressure it will overheat more easily.
You can also pump the system above normal pressure while cold to check for leaks.
I have one that will also test the pressure cap - mine opens at 13lb despite the makings saying it opens at 15lb, though it does seem to be OK.
If the heater box thing has a good bore pipe through it I think you may end up removing it and the problem will remain.
Have a look at the bottom corners of your radiator - if it has blue / green deposits its probably leaking.
You can also pump the system above normal pressure while cold to check for leaks.
I have one that will also test the pressure cap - mine opens at 13lb despite the makings saying it opens at 15lb, though it does seem to be OK.
If the heater box thing has a good bore pipe through it I think you may end up removing it and the problem will remain.
Have a look at the bottom corners of your radiator - if it has blue / green deposits its probably leaking.
Just read your thread again - did the car actually overheat or did you just think it was about to from looking at the gauge?
The V8S can touch into the bottom of the red before it drops again with the fan running - a bit disconcerting but it did it before I rebuilt the car and it does it again now - but doesn't overheat.
Remember the temp guage isn't the last work in technology
The V8S can touch into the bottom of the red before it drops again with the fan running - a bit disconcerting but it did it before I rebuilt the car and it does it again now - but doesn't overheat.
Remember the temp guage isn't the last work in technology
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