Hi Guys

 

I have written recently about my problems with the car over heating and now I have found the cause.

 

The plastic around the top of the Rad where the cap screws onto has got a grove in it.

 

As the car temp builds up the cap gets forced into the grove which raises the cap and thus lets out the water.

 

Anybody got a simple solution? I mean can I use some kind of plastic resin to try and fill in the grove, or is it a new rad.

 

If it's a new rad anyone got an idea how much is going to cost me to get it swapped?

 

Look forward to your help

 

Spencer

if you are after a new rad then get a Koyo one m8

 

best money can buy :)

 

they arnt that hard to change your self tbh, you could try filling the groove in but i would get a new rad m8 :)

if it's a new rad you can either upgrade to a koyo or howe off the traders on here, a new oem off mike mjp also in the traders sec or look in the items for sale, quite a few people breaking cars at the mo. it's a job you can do yourself as for cost of rad, im sure someone will be along to tell you. hth graeme

Hi

 

Thanks for your help.

 

I have been told that if I want a Koyo rad I also need a rad for my autobox. I have been told that I shouldn't expect much change from £600 fitted.

 

Spencer

Are you sure the cap isn't simply doing its job and venting the excess pressure? When does the overheating happen?

Are you sure the cap isn't simply doing its job and venting the excess pressure? When does the overheating happen?

 

Hi

 

Almost every time I drive it. Apart from a trip back from Plymouth to London. It was about 10pm cool out (14) and I had the temp set to 30 with the windows open.

 

Any thoughts

With the cap off the rad, can you see bubbles in the coolant?

With the cap off the rad, can you see bubbles in the coolant?

 

The collant is always empty.

Ok. Top it up and run the engine with the cap off. Sounds to me like possible HG failure :(

Ok. Top it up and run the engine with the cap off. Sounds to me like possible HG failure :(

 

Hi

 

The Rad was empty on Saturday so I took out the bleed screw and filled it with water. It took about 6 litres. Put the bleed screw back in. I then turned the car on and put the temp up to 40. Once the fan kicked in the water level dropped and I filled it up again.

 

After driving for about 20mins the cap started to come of and it started to spray out water.

 

What do you think?

 

Spencer

:eek: Sounding more and more like HG failure. Have a look for bubbles in the coolant when the engine is running...

:eek: Sounding more and more like HG failure. Have a look for bubbles in the coolant when the engine is running...

 

Sorry for the ignorance but what is HG?

 

Spencer

HG=Head gasket. Don't panic yet, have a check for the bubbles...

HG=Head gasket. Don't panic yet, have a check for the bubbles...

 

Ah no I don't think it is HG, as there aren't any bubbles in the oil and there isn't and white crust around the oil cap.

 

So any other guesses? he he he

Depends where the HG has gone! Oil-water way is only one possibility. Just check for bubbles in the coolant like I said LOL ;)

Depends where the HG has gone! Oil-water way is only one possibility. Just check for bubbles in the coolant like I said LOL ;)

 

OK, but I am at work, will have to do it when I get home.

 

What should I do, all the steps in what I said above and then look for bubbles in the top of the rad?

 

Oh and is the coolant tank - RHS as you look at front of car - just an overflow? Or should this be filled with water also?

 

Thanks

Fill the coolant system in the usual way. Start the car, let it get up to temp and check for bubbles in the coolant where the rad cap should be. May be worth picking the revs up to ~2k while checking too ;)

 

Coolant tank is the expansion tank, the idea is any excess pressure vents through the rad cap back to the tank, then when it cools it draws it back....

try and get a gas test done on your water to rule out hg failure