is this normal

[Craigwilson]

I butchered the hose to make it fit, just to get to work and back, and there is no bubbling in the expansion tank just the trickle from the return hose

[clipperjay]

That small return pipe is essential to relief pressure the diameter flow is small so any debris and calcium build up will create pressure. Like I said the pipe is a quick and small fix and it should make a difference in the balanced equalised pressure in the system. You should see steady flow when pressure builds up or temps.
Upto you now can't give you anymore advice until you sort out holts cleaner and small pipe and clean out expansion outlet?

[Craigwilson]

well my return hose definetly isn't blocked (swapped it with my old mans) and I've replaced it with a hose from a mk3 which was too long therefor cut and joined it with a bit of plastic pipe until my replacement comes from vw heritage. could the old hoses just be dead, it's only the rad hoses that swell and there the only ones that are still 20 years old,

but everything I releve the pressure in the tank it builds back up again after driving it again but it doesn't bubble on idle the level just drops when you rev it then it returns up again

[Gambit]

I got a samco kit for mine after blowing a hose a few years back. Replacing one hose will just mean pressure will move to next weakest pipe etc

I assume the temp guage is remaining in middle all the time?

[Craigwilson]

temp gauge never above never below when car is up to temp and I've ordered a samco kit for it now

[Mr Blue]

Quite high temp that 106

Just duff pipes. Get a full set of new pipes and a strong mix of coolant.

[Craigwilson]

it's ran at 106 since I done the 270 cam etc

[Craigwilson]

Think my head gaskit is now shot, water just dissapears out of the car with no leaks and when the car is idling with the cap off is just splashes out of the expansion tank

[Thom89]

Think my head gaskit is now shot, water just dissapears out of the car with no leaks and when the car is idling with the cap off is just splashes out of the expansion tank

Never!

Thom

[Gambit]

Water cant just disappear, if headgasket is properly gone itll be mixing oil in water or water in oil.

And yes water will splash out of expansion bottle with the cap off normally