P38A Over pressuring/over heating.

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R

RSDHSE

New Member
Posts
7
Location
South East Kent
Morning all,
Happy new year!
Am hoping mine will improve sometime soon as I have been without car for ages now due to an over heating issue with my 2001 P38 diesel. So far, I'm told by the garage that it's had a new stat, water pump, heads been skimmed and new rad as the old one had been clogged up with a gasket sealant. However, on road test it's fine up to 40mph but beyond that or when put under pressure on hills, the system pressurises and over heats. The rad cap has also been replaced. The garage have said the fault must be in the lower part of the engine and I should be looking for a good second hand lump. Any ideas before I start searching?
Any help would be must appreciated.

Thanks muchly
Rob
 
The heads on a diesel should not be skimmed! Did they check that the new rad had the baffle fitted? Take the rad off and try to roll a marble from one inlet to the other. If it stops then you have a baffle, if it fall out the other end them you don't and you need one for proper circulation. Unless the water galleries are blocked solid or it's cracked, I cannot see how a different block will help. Sounds like they have run out of ideas. When it's running without overheating are the hoses hot/cold and is the rad evenly hot?
 
First of all it is not recommended to skim the heads on these engines. If the engine can be run with the car at a standstill for a prolonged period whilst up to temp, then suddenly pressures up and over heats or with the cap removed dumps coolant suddenly it is highly likely the head is cracked. Also check rad for baffle as said by Alan.
 
wammers said:
First of all it is not recommended to skim the heads on these engines. If the engine can be run with the car at a standstill for a prolonged period whilst up to temp, then suddenly pressures up and over heats or with the cap removed dumps coolant suddenly it is highly likely the head is cracked. Also check rad for baffle as said by Alan.
Click to expand...
Morning Tony.
 
wammers said:
Morning Alan. Windows sorted. S/H switch pack. ;);)
Click to expand...
Well done that man.Under the black one (car that is) yesterday to drop the tank. Started it and moved it infront of the garage and ended up with a pool of brake fluid under the back axle. Brake pipes are rotten so started on them instead. Sorry to hijhack this post.;):D
 
tarphenry said:
When mine started showing overheating on motorway gradients it was the viscous fan. check that first.
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Slightly rise in temp due to failing viscous fan that goes away if weight is taken off the engine and throwing coolant out suddenly like a fountain with the needle banging on the hot stop are pretty distinctively different. ;);)
 
tarphenry said:
only trying to help,
Click to expand...

Yeah i know not getting at you. Just changed the head on one that did that. You could run it for an hour at idle, not a problem, then suddenly erupted. Head was cracked. Alan's radiator baffle is a good shout though, lots of cheaper after market rads don't have the baffle. Which makes the rad as useful as tits on a Mars bar. And would cause the ops problems. Minimum for me would be a Nissans rad or genuine for nearly twice as many pennies. Rad MUST have the baffle or hot coolant just runs across the rad top and not down and back up as it is supposed to.
 
tomcat59alan said:
Good call mate as that was the only thing that hadn't been mentioned that they had changed. If they change the engine and that doesn't cure it I bet they go for a body change next.;):D:D
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Maybe it's badly balanced stop lamp bulbs. Sound like the garage is a little on the dim side. :D:D
 
Most of the times it can be driver almost normaly with cracked head but without coolant reservoir cap(no pressure in system). But it will overheat with high load driving uphill.
It's cheaper to replace engine with good one.
:D
 
Rob sounds like you need a new garage, im your way if I can help I'm happy to have a look see I have the v8 but iv worked on oil burners before an engine is an engine.

Rad seems first port of call and the fact they skimmed the head is a real worry and as for saying its the bottom end well feck that suggestion.
 
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