p38 cold heating on tick over

supermans_1 · Feb 13, 2009

never noticed this before but just have, when im driving or reving it the heating is as hot as anything but as soon as i stop and its idleing the heating goes cold it dont over heat or any thing just the heating, is this right or some point me in the right direction please or could it be that the colant level is quite low in the header tank will fill back up when cold again but noticed the coolent was low earlyer but didnt refill it as i forgot i did notice the return hose leaking a little so tightend it up thanks in advance

gavbriggs · Feb 13, 2009

fill the coolant, ypu kinda answered yr own Q there. if it still persists the maybe the water pump is on its way???

supermans_1 · Feb 13, 2009

thanks mate will fill it tommorow do u think that is the problem then low coolant in the header due to that return hose leaking slightly as for the water pump i just replaced that 1,500 miles ago when i had the heads skimmed and i put new head gaskets on it thanks alot mate

gavbriggs · Feb 13, 2009

if you look at the pipes that go through bulk head they are close to the same level as the header water level. its probably the cause but keep an eye on it and a bottle of water in the boot just in case!

supermans_1 · Feb 13, 2009

thanks alot mate i see what u mean when the coolent levle goes down in the header tank it leaves the heater pipes higher than the water level and i always have a petrol can in the boot full of water because of what i have read on this forum about them, i have never had a problem with the water as i brought the car with blown head gaskets oviously i got the car well cheap though but has always been fine since i fixed it thanks alot for your help.

gavbriggs · Feb 13, 2009

its a bit dangerous to put water in a fuel can!!! just dont put it in the tank!!! as you have bought it with HGF then i would suggest you keep a very keen eye on the water level, check every couple of days as the dreaded cracked block syndrome is notorious after a overheat!!!

monitor it for a bit and see how it goes!

supermans_1 · Feb 13, 2009

i have done over 1500 miles in it since doing the head gasket i drove 500 miles in it last week in one trip and was flawless all the way, and it has never over heated there is no water in the oil and the only reason the water level has gone i would say is down is to the return hose leaking at the radiator end apert from that runs fine do you think it would be better to put some of that engine sealer stuff in it just incase or is that a waist of time thanks alot

gavbriggs · Feb 13, 2009

in my opinion it would be worth the £30 but bear in mind the ceramic stuff is for the block side of things and will mask any minor problems, good or bad, then at least in my case it will fail in a big way!!

the p38 engine is basically a poor design, out dated even when it was new!! and thus will always be a bag of proverbial. that said, there are a lot of people that have not had problems and as always with forums like this one there are more people with problems than people who come on just to say how good thier car is!!!

supermans_1 · Feb 13, 2009

i will just keep my eye on it for now then, have fixed the hose now so will know in a while saying that it took over 3 months to go down as little as it did, roughly 2 pints i would say thanks alot

gavbriggs · Feb 13, 2009

i wouldnt worry too much if its only lost 2 pints in 3 months with a known leak!

supermans_1 · Feb 14, 2009

i must admit if thats the only thing i ever have to do to it every 3 months a little water i will be more than happy with that even if it still does it with the leak fixed ,seems minor compared with alot i have read on hear lol

andrew j · Feb 14, 2009

wanna swop ? give me a water leak anyday compared to what i got !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gavbriggs · Feb 14, 2009

i see your problems an raise you by a knackered block! stick at it, it will work eventually!

andrew j · Feb 14, 2009

phfff knackered block tis easy where and when will you see me ? glad some one can see the funny side gav i must be blind its getting to me now

gavbriggs · Feb 14, 2009

where u from?
maybe someone can take a look with ya?

andrew j · Feb 14, 2009

im in merthyr tydfil gav middle of everywhere ,arse end of nowhere. god im grumpy now and tired of this car cant wait to get rid of it . give me a dead diesel disco any day

gavbriggs · Feb 14, 2009

i have no idea where that is so i will asume yr not local to me!have a good sleep and look at it with fresh eyes, works for me!

andrew j · Feb 14, 2009

just down from the GAP at pen-y-fan brecon beacons if thats any use cheers gav at least i can go to bed now knowing no one else will be worried about it lol:hysterically_laughi:hysterically_laughi

supermans_1 · Feb 14, 2009

welli filled the header back up to the cold fill line this morning before i even started it ,it has cured the heating problem, is it right that once its hot the level will drop as i checked it once it was hot 20 mins later and it had dropped will check again tommorow morning when its stone cold again

supermans_1 · Feb 14, 2009

i just noticed one other thing that when its hot i can hear a slight bubble noise from the filler cap as if its not 100% sealed could this cause a problem or not thanks

p38 cold heating on tick over

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