Apologies for my maiden post being a plea for help, and a long one!
I have searched this excellent site and others to try and get a reasonably definitive answer to my P38 problem and so determine my next course of action but remain confused. If I can summarise whats happening and hope that some wise and more experienced P38 owner can say "sadly yes, it is probably your head gasket" then I can stop piddling about replacing everything else.
Mine is a May 2000 RR 4.0se auto with 74k on the clock and believed original. I bought it about 8 months ago with a reasonable service history.
About 2 months ago, driving modestly on a local trip, having just that minute said to my wife how pleased I was with the car (typical) the temperature gauge went into the red and the header tank looked fit to explode. No water loss, no muck in the oil. I ran it again locally next few days and no problem. Then taking it for a service about 10 miles away from home, I `wellied it` away from the traffic lights and boom, same thing happened, red area temp, solid top hose and header tank ready to burst.
The mechanic ran it during the week, fast, slow, ticking over for ages and nothing happened, temp needle dead centre, no water loss, no emulsified oil. no smoke, running well.
He changed the thermostat and viscous fan, everything seemed ok! Last week, driving along a motorway after about 35 miles, I noticed the temperature creep up, nearly red, then dropped down to normal. A few minutes later, up again then down............ then finally up! No water loss etc, same as before. AA said the bottom hose was cold and therefore the newly replaced thermostat was at fault?
Relayed home and then out the next day and gauge up and down after 25 minutes driving at night. Finally hit red when I arrived home.
Today, I put some Kseal in (2 pots), took it out and within 3 miles, bang, up into red, quicker than ever and stayed there. System really pressurized, top hose solid, no water loss, oil fine, possibly exhaust smell in header tank? But have I just read too much? Certainly beginning to wish I hadnt read about Kseal!!!!
Started up just now, ran for 20 minutes, revved up and right down left on idle, no problem! Warmed up really quick as usual but stayed there. Bottom of radiator cold compared to top. Water seemingly circulating to header, then I burnt myself checking, serves me right!
So! May I ask for some guidance please? Head gasket, thermostat again? Blocked radiator even though I flushed the systenm first time round? What do you think. I would like to build up trust with the old girl again!
Many thanks in anticipation, Robin.
I have searched this excellent site and others to try and get a reasonably definitive answer to my P38 problem and so determine my next course of action but remain confused. If I can summarise whats happening and hope that some wise and more experienced P38 owner can say "sadly yes, it is probably your head gasket" then I can stop piddling about replacing everything else.
Mine is a May 2000 RR 4.0se auto with 74k on the clock and believed original. I bought it about 8 months ago with a reasonable service history.
About 2 months ago, driving modestly on a local trip, having just that minute said to my wife how pleased I was with the car (typical) the temperature gauge went into the red and the header tank looked fit to explode. No water loss, no muck in the oil. I ran it again locally next few days and no problem. Then taking it for a service about 10 miles away from home, I `wellied it` away from the traffic lights and boom, same thing happened, red area temp, solid top hose and header tank ready to burst.
The mechanic ran it during the week, fast, slow, ticking over for ages and nothing happened, temp needle dead centre, no water loss, no emulsified oil. no smoke, running well.
He changed the thermostat and viscous fan, everything seemed ok! Last week, driving along a motorway after about 35 miles, I noticed the temperature creep up, nearly red, then dropped down to normal. A few minutes later, up again then down............ then finally up! No water loss etc, same as before. AA said the bottom hose was cold and therefore the newly replaced thermostat was at fault?
Relayed home and then out the next day and gauge up and down after 25 minutes driving at night. Finally hit red when I arrived home.
Today, I put some Kseal in (2 pots), took it out and within 3 miles, bang, up into red, quicker than ever and stayed there. System really pressurized, top hose solid, no water loss, oil fine, possibly exhaust smell in header tank? But have I just read too much? Certainly beginning to wish I hadnt read about Kseal!!!!
Started up just now, ran for 20 minutes, revved up and right down left on idle, no problem! Warmed up really quick as usual but stayed there. Bottom of radiator cold compared to top. Water seemingly circulating to header, then I burnt myself checking, serves me right!
So! May I ask for some guidance please? Head gasket, thermostat again? Blocked radiator even though I flushed the systenm first time round? What do you think. I would like to build up trust with the old girl again!
Many thanks in anticipation, Robin.