ey guys tr started to overheat and water kept running low within 3 days so changed the thermostat. car was fine for 1 week and now it starting to over heat again. any ideas?

It could be quite a few things - blown head gasket, cracked head, water pump.

what sort of coolant? , I always use nulon and never had any problems

did you test the new thermostat before you fitted it , they fail alot

well if it was cracked head wouldnt there be water in the oil and vise verse?

not always....might go out the exhaust, depends on where the crack is

mate try and feel the radiator hoses they do wear out over time and when the vacume happens sometimes the bottom one might not flow as good as it should.(sorry very hard to explain.) could be water pump... could also be radiator being blocked.. have a look at it,

try that before anything else, head gaskets get expensive...

Good luck.


ps make sure your overflow is filled and also your radiator..

Degrease car 1st and see if it's leaking anywhere, but if its a crack in the block it could be between a coolant jacket and the cylinder, thus comes no-where near oil, it only mixes with oil when the crack of the coolant jacket crosses over an oil gallery

Replace the radiator cap, when it cant hold much pressure it takes it out on the hoses and other sections.

You will be suprised, people always replace the thermo but never the cap, if the caps old and the valves screwed your car overheats then eventually blows hoses and could take it out on the whole engine.

Other then the thermo, the waterpump could be the problem also. (old age of car)

Any coolant bought should have a certain percentage of Glycol , I use the Castrol which has 33% over the minium amount. Have you parked the car on concrete and noticed any leaks? any coolant leaks on or under the engine?

A good start would be flushing the whole system and change cap.

how are your welsh plugs?

Replace the radiator cap, when it cant hold much pressure it takes it out on the hoses and other sections.

You will be suprised, people always replace the thermo but never the cap, if the caps old and the valves screwed your car overheats then eventually blows hoses and could take it out on the whole engine.

Other then the thermo, the waterpump could be the problem also. (old age of car)

Any coolant bought should have a certain percentage of Glycol , I use the Castrol which has 33% over the minium amount. Have you parked the car on concrete and noticed any leaks? any coolant leaks on or under the engine?

A good start would be flushing the whole system and change cap.

Excellent point.


how are your welsh plugs?

Also an excllent point - the 2.6L welsh plugs are practically made of paper mache.

Lots a guesses here.

First thing you need to determine is where the coolant is going. If it is a cracked head, you will be getting hot gasses into the cooling system and it will struggle to cool.

Cap can be an issue but ususally they do not hold pressure. Avoid at all costs using those TPC and similar caps as they do not allow the cap to function properly, use one designed like the original. CPC are have now changed the design to match what the ND caps were, only newer stock will have the new design.

Get a pressure test to start with, this will show up any leaks externally. Get a monoxide test as this will show any internal leaks (exhaust gas entering the cooling system)

Are your fans coming on when it gets hot? may be as simple as a relay?

Another thing to check is if the drivers or passengers side carpets are damp near the bulk head - could be the heater matrix leaking. Happened to a mates car recently. Lots of guesses, but all worth checking - process of elemination til you find the problem.

wow i forgot to check this thread lol

thanks for the suggestions ill check all them things.

but from what iv seen the fans are working, radaitor cap is a bit rust so will get a new oe

and what the hell is wesh plugs? lol.

big round plugs on the block.....i'll get a pic for ya later on today

thanks mate.

im wondering what the welsh plugs are as well..

my car was overheating a while ago, and it just had some major blockages in the cooling system...don't know what the people before me did to the car but anyway....my mechanic just did a full flush out of the system and the radiator and it was fine.

sorry mate i'm to lazy to take my exhaust off so took a pic of my manual.

Also if you have Red Devil Radiators near you have a chat to them, I'm found them really helpful and were very professional

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd104/91ows/2008_08110043.jpg

Lots a guesses here.

First thing you need to determine is where the coolant is going. If it is a cracked head, you will be getting hot gasses into the cooling system and it will struggle to cool.

Cap can be an issue but ususally they do not hold pressure. Avoid at all costs using those TPC and similar caps as they do not allow the cap to function properly, use one designed like the original. CPC are have now changed the design to match what the ND caps were, only newer stock will have the new design.

Get a pressure test to start with, this will show up any leaks externally. Get a monoxide test as this will show any internal leaks (exhaust gas entering the cooling system)

Are your fans coming on when it gets hot? may be as simple as a relay?


Thats good advice and very cheap and quick to get done.

My falcon was doin the same thing and it turned out to be the rad being blocked from about half way down (they are in sideways), a dud (new) thermostat that jammed straight away, and a dud rad cap all at once.

Wasnt that a ****load of fun to find.:rant:

My pressure test was good and the monoxide test showed no gases getting into the rad water (therfore the head was good).

Got a new rad off ebay, 2nd new thermostat and cap and all was good


..

thanks guys and thanks for that pic 91lows

will get the pressure test done on saturday and see what the results are then.

I can do the pressure test for you, have a proper unit here to do the test if you need

hey thanks mal might take your offer up on that. can let you know by tomorrow.

mean while i "might" have found the problem but will still do all the checks to make sure all is well but there is this pipe. ill try my very best to describe where it is and what it looks like as it was pretty dark to take pics.

where the thermostat is under that is this metal pipe that goes in towards the block and the other end of it (facing the airbox) has a rubber hose connected to it and that hose dosnt look its best. so filled the car up with water started her up let it warm up and presto dripping water. now its a very small drip and the car was just sitting there ideling so from what im guessing while driving there would be more pressure so it will be dripping (pissing out) faster? if i can find a pic of a 2ndgen engine bay (think tuffy has one or two i can use lol) ill highlight the area im talking about but hopefully its just that.

hey thanks mal might take your offer up on that. can let you know by tomorrow.

mean while i "might" have found the problem but will still do all the checks to make sure all is well but there is this pipe. ill try my very best to describe where it is and what it looks like as it was pretty dark to take pics.

where the thermostat is under that is this metal pipe that goes in towards the block and the other end of it (facing the airbox) has a rubber hose connected to it and that hose dosnt look its best. so filled the car up with water started her up let it warm up and presto dripping water. now its a very small drip and the car was just sitting there ideling so from what im guessing while driving there would be more pressure so it will be dripping (pissing out) faster? if i can find a pic of a 2ndgen engine bay (think tuffy has one or two i can use lol) ill highlight the area im talking about but hopefully its just that.


Ashneel, if you are talking about the metal pipe i think you are... that metal pipe goes right through the middle of the engine?? yes?
if thats the one u mean, that metal pipe goes straight into the water pump.

in which case i suspect that yes it would "piss out faster" while driving

has the rubber hosing ever been replaced on the car?

*i'm assuming its a v6?*

isnt your car a 4cyl, if so this pipe goes arond the back of the inlet manifold and is a heater coolant bypass pipe, if the hose is leaking replace it