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[Boatboy]

Hope so as that might be the lesser of many evils.

Sound of escaping water/steam for a few seconds followed by a strong smell of coolant in the cabin. Stopped and looked for leaks but nothing found, roads wet etc. Temperature within normal range.

This happened 3 times, the last one near to home and more prolonged, and as I got into town and stopped briefly at some lights the temp gauge went into the red. Meanwhile the fan is working overtime.

Just got in so not sure yet how much if any coolant I have lost as the motors still V hot and wanted to post before you all get tucked in for the night.


Steve

[iainb]

Check the heater matrix inside the car.
If you can hear it and smell it there is a problem.
The matrix is low down on the right side of the centre consul, you maybe able to get your hand to it via the drivers footwell

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Well yes, but it could be a problem elsewhere under the bonnet.

Feel behind the rear drivers side of the engine after it has been brought up to working temp., and also try and see if any water is coming down from that area.  If it is that usually means HBV failure.

[big-o-bob]

In my experience of HBV failure (although maybe not in all cases), it only leaked coolant when the heater blower was turned on.

It might be worth turning the heater blower on full and having a look for coolant loss.

[Boatboy]

Thanks for the replies.

On checking the cold engine the amount of water lost is very small. Possibly due to being (clumsily) overfilled recently. Still do not know where it went though.

As far as the overheating is concerned I think I might have a blocked radiator. Engine heats up nicely and top and bottom hoses get hot, as do the side tanks, but on the top and the fins on the main body of the matrix it is still cool, right up to the point when all 3 fans kick in.  

The top and body of the rad get colder almost immediately, but the fans keep running and all the hoses take a long time to cool.


I'll try the standard 'drain, fill, run and repeat' process a few times over the next couple of days. If that does not shift it is there anything else recommended?


Steve

[Boatboy]

So far I have got plenty of rusty looking water out but still the problem persists. Give it a few more goes with a hose tomorrow.

I have been warned off radflush and similar items due to it being an aluminum radiator. Any recommendations for something to help shift the muck would be welcome.

Steve

[Gaffers]

Hmm not sure, could be just an air lock  :-/

Have you thought about oil cooler plate, sounds similar to what I had.  The cool top of the radiator could just be a lack of coolant in the system

[RobseyMV6]

Hi Steve,

we used rad flush at the last meet on loonmv6's mig and i've also used this many times in my motors, only take 10 min's.

[Boatboy]

Thanks mate i'll give it a try in the morning.

First thing today I syphoned a sample out of the header tank into a jam jar and put it on a shelf. Initially looked like dirty red coolant. 6 hours later and i've got 1.5 inch of nearly clear water and 0.25 inch rusty sediment.

Hope the rad flush is up to it.

steve