Hi all, I have a problem with the cooling system getting hot and pressurising, so throwing the coolant out of the cap. It has just happened recently, I have filled it up full twice since it first started doing it and the same happens after it has warmed up and been running for say 15 - 20 mins. Only after labouring on hills or stuck in slow traffic ( inevitable in Sheffield for both ). The disco does not have a conventional viscous fan, it has 2 big fans in front of the rad, they do work, not sure if they are cutting in at the correct time ? ( was thinking of wiring up manually as an option ). There is no oil in the water or any smell of petrol in it too, have not yet checked for sludge in the oil filler cap or dipstick, will do that in a mo, while you guys please have a think for me ... any questions .. PLEASE ASK .. as many heads, so to speak ... cheers Paul... brb
jamesmartin
Well-Known Member
when hot check wit your hand across rad to see if its cooling effectively
Thank you will do that, to check and see if the fans have cut in , do you meen ?
Just checked inside the oil filler cap and its ultra clean, also checked the dipstick and the oil is golden in colour, yes I was totaly astounded too, but it is ! i BOUGHT THE CAR in November and have now done 1500 mls and did not and have not changed the oil, usually do, but did not have time before it snowed lol. Anyway no gunge !!!
Just checked inside the oil filler cap and its ultra clean, also checked the dipstick and the oil is golden in colour, yes I was totaly astounded too, but it is ! i BOUGHT THE CAR in November and have now done 1500 mls and did not and have not changed the oil, usually do, but did not have time before it snowed lol. Anyway no gunge !!!
jamesmartin
Well-Known Member
no see if rad core is hot all the way across if not it wont cool your engine biggest cause of head gasket failure i come across
Richard Martin
Well-Known Member
What engine is it?
The two fans in front of the rad will be for the air con. Although it doesn't usually need it there should be a viscous fan fitted.
As well as feeling the radiator check the top and bottom hoses, are they both hot.
Other probs could be failed thermostat (not opening, unusual though) or water pump not pumping .
But my guess would be that the rad is old and clogged up internally, and the fins are either missing or clogged with mud on the outside.
discool
Well-Known Member
Running a V8 without is viscous cooling fan is not a good idear. The two electric fans are for use with the a/c although they will switch on if the engine is allowed to overheat.
Does sound that you have overheated the engine and now you have a problem with a head gasket, but first replace the fan and fill the header tank to half way, level with the midway seam, then if no better get the system pressure tested.
Does sound that you have overheated the engine and now you have a problem with a head gasket, but first replace the fan and fill the header tank to half way, level with the midway seam, then if no better get the system pressure tested.
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Mr Noisy
Coming in your ears.
Yeah it's not good that you've got no viscous fan.
I run electric fans but as a conversion, so I know they work and I decided what temp they come on!!
If yours aren't working/aren't much cop its probably too far gone.
My car holds pressure in the water system for days after you turn it off. Not sure if its right, but I run the car and then leave it in th garage for a few days, come to check the coolant stone cold and it still hisses off air when I undo the cap.
Loses about a cupful of water every month or so, but I attribute that to a visible water pump leak.
Does any of this seem similar to yours? I am under the impression that mine is spot on - oil good, coolant good, exhaust good.
Cheers.
I run electric fans but as a conversion, so I know they work and I decided what temp they come on!!
If yours aren't working/aren't much cop its probably too far gone.
My car holds pressure in the water system for days after you turn it off. Not sure if its right, but I run the car and then leave it in th garage for a few days, come to check the coolant stone cold and it still hisses off air when I undo the cap.
Loses about a cupful of water every month or so, but I attribute that to a visible water pump leak.
Does any of this seem similar to yours? I am under the impression that mine is spot on - oil good, coolant good, exhaust good.
Cheers.
Hi again, (1) -This vehicle has two MASSIVE kenlow fans in front of the rad and no viscous standard fan.
(2) -There is no air-con and never has been air-con on the vehicle, I would therefore assume that the fans are an aftermarket conversion. May be the cause of overheat by not cutting in at correct temp, so I need to know where the sensor is situated for that, or would it just be good to wire them to a switch and op manualy ?
(3) -This could be a probable cause, as the vehicle has been running fine for 2 month, the thermostat, as someone suggested, I will need to remove and test it !!
(4) -As I stated earlier, the oil is in an excellent condition, really nice golden colour ( I was expecting it to be dark brown to black) with no contaminents in it as I can see, feel or smell, and at the correct level, strange I know for an engine that has supposed to have done 170k or so the clock reads. The filler cap is perfectly clean, and so is the dipstick.
The engine runs sweet and flicks over to gas after just 30 seconds and a rev to 1500, NO steam or traces from the exhaust. There is however a white residue stain, running down the expansion tank where the water has been blown out.
I think that I have covered most things, am just gathering info before I go out in this freezing weather and do all of the checks and re-wire the fans etc, that dont mean relax guys .... Please keep thinking ... thanks in anticipation lol ... Paul.
(2) -There is no air-con and never has been air-con on the vehicle, I would therefore assume that the fans are an aftermarket conversion. May be the cause of overheat by not cutting in at correct temp, so I need to know where the sensor is situated for that, or would it just be good to wire them to a switch and op manualy ?
(3) -This could be a probable cause, as the vehicle has been running fine for 2 month, the thermostat, as someone suggested, I will need to remove and test it !!
(4) -As I stated earlier, the oil is in an excellent condition, really nice golden colour ( I was expecting it to be dark brown to black) with no contaminents in it as I can see, feel or smell, and at the correct level, strange I know for an engine that has supposed to have done 170k or so the clock reads. The filler cap is perfectly clean, and so is the dipstick.
The engine runs sweet and flicks over to gas after just 30 seconds and a rev to 1500, NO steam or traces from the exhaust. There is however a white residue stain, running down the expansion tank where the water has been blown out.
I think that I have covered most things, am just gathering info before I go out in this freezing weather and do all of the checks and re-wire the fans etc, that dont mean relax guys .... Please keep thinking ... thanks in anticipation lol ... Paul.
scarecrow243
Active Member
my old range rover v8 had kenlow fans and there was a cut off switch on the dash for the fans when going thru water
discool
Well-Known Member
So you know why the coolent is blowing out of the header tank cap then, and we are now on how to wire up an electric cooling fan.
As it's not standard kit who knows where the temp sensor is but if you had one it would be connected somewhere in the top hose that's the normal place.
And there's no need to SHOUT in this forum. :blabla:
Hi guys, my problems just seem to escalate, lol. I removed the thermostat and boild it up, as we used to do years ago and it just sat in the pan and, nothing ! it did not open. I have been told by the spares shop that this kind of test will not work with the new thermostats as they need to be under pressure, this stat seems like any stat from years gone by and that was how we knew they were no good or not. NEW STAT fitted anyway, so I thought mmmm, i'll wire the twin kenlowe's to come on with the ignition, so I cut the wiresto the fans and wired them up to the switch side of the coil, bad move ! cause the fans did not come on ans the engine would not start now either ( oh ****) I knew I should have wired em to a switch from the relays. Was hoping I was lucky and checked every fuse I could find, no way will it turn over, think the alarm sys may have something to do with it !
Question - If I were to were to take a live to the coil and a live to the solenoid and jump the terminals, will this start the truck ? Cant think straight cause when I've done this, what will it have proved lol ? I aint mad with the car, am mad with myself for not thinking before tackling the job ... Help ! ... cheers ... Paul.
Question - If I were to were to take a live to the coil and a live to the solenoid and jump the terminals, will this start the truck ? Cant think straight cause when I've done this, what will it have proved lol ? I aint mad with the car, am mad with myself for not thinking before tackling the job ... Help ! ... cheers ... Paul.
Mr Noisy
Coming in your ears.
Pretty dumb move to power the fans from the coil supply I'm afraid!
Need to find out where the coil is supplied from, I'm a 200 shape man so don't know about yours - but I'd be looking to repair that problem before ****ing about putting any more wires here and there etc.
Best of luck, cheers
Need to find out where the coil is supplied from, I'm a 200 shape man so don't know about yours - but I'd be looking to repair that problem before ****ing about putting any more wires here and there etc.
Best of luck, cheers
