I am an idiot~overheating

[Bjork]

Ok, turns out I can't use the cap as it's a different size. Done the whole bleed trhough thing but does this sound normal?

Once up to temp the water in header tank spills over while cap is off then gets sucked back down. Over and over again.
Revving engine does not change this in any way. Shouldn't water pill over more whwen revving engine.

Done compression test and get consistent readings over all 4 cylinders.


Also, should the pipes leading up to bypass valves for the heater matrix be solid with coolant because they seem very easy to squeeze together. Could they not be letting anythin through? Heaters don't get red hot but the matrix is only 3 years old.

[Bjork]

Update.........when up to temperature with the cap and everything in place there is water forcing its way out through the very bottom header tank hose.
There is no leak unless engine is running.

[rubjonny]

yes it will boil over with the cap off, the system is designed to pressurise so as to raiser the boiling point.  perform the bleed procedure as per my faq, then stop the engine as soon as you sopt the coolant start to rise or when the coolant pipes get too hot to touch, then stop the engine and refit the cap.

any leaks will prevent the system from pressurising, so fix them

[Conker]

Also, my fan is still needed even in these cold conditions, especially at idle. My oil doesn't get above 100 hardly ever at the moment, so when its running, check your oil temp (seen as though your water gauge isn't working).

This could be a cause of your over heating.

[Bjork]

Cheers again.

I bled the system did a compression test just in case which seemed fine.

I've thrown the towel in though and dropped it off at my local garage. For sake of a few quid they can diagnose it now as I'm ready for wrapping it round a tree!!! 

Might have a crack at it myself if they ask too much money but at least they can pinpoint what the problem is for me.

I'll update once I hear from them so it will hopefully help others.

[Bjork]

Just incase you're interested it turns out that my coolant had frozen big style. When turning the engine over it sheared the water pump's propeller and also the pulley connected to it so water wasn't circulating and hence overheating.

My own fault so I'm kicking myself.   

Spanked a few hundred squid for nothing, could've been put towards project 'Rado!!! 

Anyway, hope this thread helps someone if they do the same thing as me.

Moral of the story...........check your anti-freeze!!! 

[DarnPB]

Well, glad you got it sorted. Incidently, the water pump has an impellor, not a propellor.

[Bjork]

I stand corrected.  :embarassed:

[sidecarphil]

tis ok he is one of them aviator type