Don't think of it as the end, it's the just the beginning...
What does the inside of the oil filler cap look like? Should be oil coloured. Is the coolant still nice a clear pink/green?
Was it making any funny noises before it overheated? Like a loud ticking/tapping noise?
Mine overheated couple of weeks ago at night down a lane in the middle of nowhere when it was -6 and gale force wind which was nice, same symptoms as yours. In my case I believe it's a head gasket, should find out if I'm right this afternoon, taking the heads off.
You could have the coolant tested for exhaust gases (mine obviously smells of petrol and was producing steam/vapour from the coolant even when the coolant was cold). Or you can buy a kit online, it has blue liquid that turns green or yellow if there's gas present.
Hope you don't have a cracked block. Actually hope I don't either
biketeacherdave
Well-Known Member
Stuck thermostat ? Head gasket ? Time to get looking
hi filler cap just oil no gunge,coolant clear ,cant see or smell anything at exhaust no white smoke,just loads of pressure in expansion tank[release cap and coolant explodes ] thinking about it there was a tapping noiseDon't think of it as the end, it's the just the beginning...
What does the inside of the oil filler cap look like? Should be oil coloured. Is the coolant still nice a clear pink/green?
Was it making any funny noises before it overheated? Like a loud ticking/tapping noise?
Mine overheated couple of weeks ago at night down a lane in the middle of nowhere when it was -6 and gale force wind which was nice, same symptoms as yours. In my case I believe it's a head gasket, should find out if I'm right this afternoon, taking the heads off.
You could have the coolant tested for exhaust gases (mine obviously smells of petrol and was producing steam/vapour from the coolant even when the coolant was cold). Or you can buy a kit online, it has blue liquid that turns green or yellow if there's gas present.
Hope you don't have a cracked block. Actually hope I don't either
As biketeacherdave says, it's definitely worth checking the thermostat, replacing it's an easy job once you get the fan out of the way. I think you can get one for about £30.
Considering you have no obvious water coming out the exhaust and your oil and coolant look good you might be lucky and it's just a stuck thermostat and no damage caused. Do you have an LPG kit on there? They can run a bit hotter than on petrol.
I've yet to find the cause of the tapping on mine, it was from the back of the engine somewhere and sounded louder below the car, and only when warmed up, never from cold. Could be slipped liner, exhaust leak, head gasket, intake manifold or a combination of those. I'll be posting photos if and when I find the cause.
Considering you have no obvious water coming out the exhaust and your oil and coolant look good you might be lucky and it's just a stuck thermostat and no damage caused. Do you have an LPG kit on there? They can run a bit hotter than on petrol.
I've yet to find the cause of the tapping on mine, it was from the back of the engine somewhere and sounded louder below the car, and only when warmed up, never from cold. Could be slipped liner, exhaust leak, head gasket, intake manifold or a combination of those. I'll be posting photos if and when I find the cause.
thanks for replies,hope for the best
MattMatt
Active Member
Mine had the same problem and found it was the rad - completely full of gunk and stuff at the bottom. I had changed the thermo, tried a back flush ( which released a whole load of blueish stuff) and finally solved it with the rad change. BTW the new rad was nearly half the weight of the old one - shows how much build up there had been. I was told my the rad builder the wrong antifreeze can do this. Try each in order, Thermostat and back flush first
