20 Jun 2007, 23:32
Hi all,
I just want a few peeps to make me feel a bit better - I have perused the forums sections here about bleeding air from the cooling system. I wont say how, but last week my rad cap came off in spectacular style releasing all the coolant from my engine (I steam cleaned my garage and myself (with burns to prove it)). The temp was well above the middle line as my fans had not come on. I only realised this as the system disharged the contents into the engine bay. Anyway, I refilled with hot water and bled the system. The cooling fans are now on a manual switch which I basically keep on all the time now (the otterstat switch is at fault). Since the cooling discharge event the car has done 500 miles to France, all going well. However, on its leg back form France the car mysteriously got too hot (220) with fans on and boiled over when the car came to a stop.
The car was cooled down and refilled, it made it back to England fine with no overheat. I started the car today (3 days later) and after 3 miles or so, the temp was 220 with fans on. I stopped, and bled the system, there was lots of air in the system. The temp went back to normal. I drove it 200 miles round trip to Cambridge, on getting home I stopped for 30 mins, got back in the car and started the engine again, the temp shot back up to 220 within about 2 miles. The radiator and attached pipes were not hot at all. I pulled over and re-bled the system. Lots of air again.
The car runs fine but it is asthough air is getting in, I am just concerned I may have a leaky head gasket or crack that is allowing super hot air into the cooling system. Looking at the forum just now, Claire says she seemed to get air in from nowhere and its what is happening with me. I am just concerned by the quick time it took to get real hot after starting up and the amount of air that appears to be in the system after I apparanetly bled it. The car doesnt rock or splutter. I have just noticed I have not bled the system to your recommendations here, i.e. with the heater on and the rear of the car up reference the front of the car. I also did not bleed direct from the radiator as well.
I will do this and see what happens. I am under the impression that the cooling system is a real pig to bleed, I just want someone to agree that it is unlikely it is a crack in the head or the gasket. It wouldnt make it the miles it has done like that surely?
To summarise my essay, if I bleed the system to whats recommended here, I think the problem of quick overheating will go away, I guess as the air lock makes its way around the system and collects, it reaches a position to allow overheating. I will buy the auto kit ASAP and pop that on. Does the system really take this long to bleed and can air really appear to come from nowhere and would it take nearly 500 miles to get round to causing a problem?
Please tell me it is not my head gasket
Thanks in anticipation...... I'll buy someone a crate of Magners......
I just want a few peeps to make me feel a bit better - I have perused the forums sections here about bleeding air from the cooling system. I wont say how, but last week my rad cap came off in spectacular style releasing all the coolant from my engine (I steam cleaned my garage and myself (with burns to prove it)). The temp was well above the middle line as my fans had not come on. I only realised this as the system disharged the contents into the engine bay. Anyway, I refilled with hot water and bled the system. The cooling fans are now on a manual switch which I basically keep on all the time now (the otterstat switch is at fault). Since the cooling discharge event the car has done 500 miles to France, all going well. However, on its leg back form France the car mysteriously got too hot (220) with fans on and boiled over when the car came to a stop.
The car was cooled down and refilled, it made it back to England fine with no overheat. I started the car today (3 days later) and after 3 miles or so, the temp was 220 with fans on. I stopped, and bled the system, there was lots of air in the system. The temp went back to normal. I drove it 200 miles round trip to Cambridge, on getting home I stopped for 30 mins, got back in the car and started the engine again, the temp shot back up to 220 within about 2 miles. The radiator and attached pipes were not hot at all. I pulled over and re-bled the system. Lots of air again.
The car runs fine but it is asthough air is getting in, I am just concerned I may have a leaky head gasket or crack that is allowing super hot air into the cooling system. Looking at the forum just now, Claire says she seemed to get air in from nowhere and its what is happening with me. I am just concerned by the quick time it took to get real hot after starting up and the amount of air that appears to be in the system after I apparanetly bled it. The car doesnt rock or splutter. I have just noticed I have not bled the system to your recommendations here, i.e. with the heater on and the rear of the car up reference the front of the car. I also did not bleed direct from the radiator as well.
I will do this and see what happens. I am under the impression that the cooling system is a real pig to bleed, I just want someone to agree that it is unlikely it is a crack in the head or the gasket. It wouldnt make it the miles it has done like that surely?
To summarise my essay, if I bleed the system to whats recommended here, I think the problem of quick overheating will go away, I guess as the air lock makes its way around the system and collects, it reaches a position to allow overheating. I will buy the auto kit ASAP and pop that on. Does the system really take this long to bleed and can air really appear to come from nowhere and would it take nearly 500 miles to get round to causing a problem?
Please tell me it is not my head gasket
Thanks in anticipation...... I'll buy someone a crate of Magners......
Chris Reynolds
www.deloreanhire.com
www.deloreanhire.com