Hi

 

I was having problems with my rad and the guy at the garage swapped the cap with another Zed that was parked out the back.

 

I'm still having problems, but I was wondering about the cap.

 

Are the all the same or are they different? ie is the pressure capacity/ size etc the same.

 

If not does anybody know somewhere near Kingston where I can get one tomorrow (Sat)?

 

Thanks

 

Spencer

no prob mate. i know you can do the headgasket quite easily if you overheat it but the signs arent there. you should have at least one of these:

takes a while to start,

noticable lack of power,

high fuel consumption (but its a Z so thats standard anyway),

water in oil or oil in water,

bubbles and/or slime in the water,

a fair ammount of white or blue smoke from the exhaust, getting worse when you rev it.

if you have none of the above or you may have but you're not sure that usually means its fine.

if the cars been stood for a while or not used often or if the water system hasnt been drained and re-filled with coolant regularly, you get corrosion and rubbish in your water (especially if the cars been filled with just water and then stood).

try the easy stuff first. i'd say blocked rad but the thermostat is the easiest and cheapest so go for a new one first.

oh, and im just thinking logically. if everytime a car overheated it was the headgasket there wouldnt be so many cars left on the road. usually they overheat after the water system has'nt been properly maintained and the gasket goes because of that.

easy.

si.

One other thing to look at bud.... if it appears you ar overheating and losing water....there is a small tube running from the neck of the rad to the expansion tank....if this is not connected properly both ends you will lose water as the rad cap seal opens to let water into the expansion tank....mine seemed to get disconnected once and I started to lose water...I couldnt find a leak anywhere, but everyday I would find the level dropped.

 

I looked at all the fittings and found the exp tank tube had come adrift, plugged it str8 on...no probs ever since.

 

HTH

 

Other than that get it checked out soon other wise :cry: :cry: :cry:

If you replace the stat then be sure to replace the two short pipes/tubes connecting the top pipe to the head as well (not immediately visible!) These are a common place for water leaks and caused me water leak headaches beyond belief when i bought my car! I'd had a Z32 trained nissan mechanic replace the water pump to solve my leak and i ended up re-doing the stat and these pipes myself which were causing the hidden leak after joing the forum!

any luck with this, bud?

si