Hi folks,

 

Just got the zed back today - after some suspension work

 

So, have been for some 'spirited driving'..

 

Unfortunately there seems to be an issue with the cooling system. I have a tech tom fitted so i am able to see a digital read out for the engine temp. On a motorway cruise to my mate's the temp was steady at 80-85 degrees c while at motorway speeds. However, I've just got back from a quick blast consisting of mainly backroads and then some fun on an industrail estate (roundabouts) and the temp has started being erratic.

 

The temp quickly went up to about 95, then all of a sudden jumped to 105, then fell quickly to 90 and then rose quickly again. This was while I was trying to gently cool the car on a steady run back to the house... I thought it might just be the gauge playing up, but having stopped the engine and popped the bonnet I saw a trace of coolant from the pipe next to the radiator cap. Closer inspection revealed more had leaked onto the belly plate and there was a small pool collecting on the floor.

 

I checked the coolant level and there was still plenty in, but I could hear the water in the engine (engine not running) boiling or at least bubbling away.

 

Any ideas? Is it the fact I may have been cornering for a sustained period to the right (ie around the roundabouts..) and forced fluid out of the overflow pipe? or could it be that the system has got airlocked somehow, which would explain the erratic readings as the sensor measured water, air, water, air etc

 

Car parked up now, will give it a bit of time to cool then pop the radiator cap for an inspection.

 

Anyone suffered a similar episode?

 

Cheers - Leo

Hi Leo,

 

First thing I'd do is replace the radiator cap. At higher temps, the coolant expands past the cap and into the expansion bottle. Once the engine cools, the coolant is sucked back into the radiator.

 

If the cap has passed its sell by date, it may not operate properly and coolant can escape. Plus it's probably the easiest and cheapest component to replace!

 

Richard:yes:

thanks Richard,

 

have just been out and checked the fluids.. plenty of coolant in the rad, if anything slightly too much, but temp was still around 60 degrees so it may drop as the fluid cools back down?

 

Parked the car pointing slightly uphill and popped the rad cap with the engine still running, no gurgles as such, all very dull really. No more fluid underneath the car either, so doesn't look like anything serious..

 

Hopefully..

dodgy thermostat?

dodgy thermostat?

 

just got back from another run..

 

seems the coolant leak earlier was just a red herring. When i started the car up the temp went from 60 down to 35 then climbed quickly to 95 and above. Pulled over and the engine was barely warm and the radiator was luke-warm.

 

On the basis of that I'm inclined to agree the thermostat or sensor is at fault..

 

Is this pretty simple to fix then?

 

cheers

Normally any erratic temp readings points to a connection issue.

 

Jeff TT

Normally any erratic temp readings points to a connection issue.

 

Jeff TT

 

Yup my conector on the engine temp sometimes cause the gauge to be very iratic