Discussion
Just had a strange problem with the V8S. It’s been running fine. Oil pressure’s ok now, odd bits to be sorted by the spring, but nothing significant.
However, the better half took it out for a trip a couple of days ago. The car was well warmed up first (as she has been instructed). She stopped at a petrol station for fuel. When she re-started there was a massive bit of over-revving, then the car started to steam, and there was coolant leaking from somewhere. She reckons a pint or so came out. She obviously stopped and let the car cool. It re-started fine. Drove it a few miles to a local chap, who then let the car cool for a couple of hours before checking coolant levels. They seemed to be normal (although he’s not a RV8 expert).
In all this time the temperature gauge did not register any great increase in temperature. There was no evidence of a large spray of coolant in the engine bay (no great residue). The cap on the swirl pot is a little loose, but not excessively. The
I have driven the car since to check, and no problems at all have surfaced.
I’m still learning where bits are, and trusting other people’s knowledge. I’ve read about the swirl pot, and believe there is an overflow pipe, but where I don’t know. I’m assuming that (barring the better half simply having had a “blonde” moment) there was blow-off from the overflow. Is this something to worry about? Do I have to do something with the swirl pot?
Thanks for the help again.
However, the better half took it out for a trip a couple of days ago. The car was well warmed up first (as she has been instructed). She stopped at a petrol station for fuel. When she re-started there was a massive bit of over-revving, then the car started to steam, and there was coolant leaking from somewhere. She reckons a pint or so came out. She obviously stopped and let the car cool. It re-started fine. Drove it a few miles to a local chap, who then let the car cool for a couple of hours before checking coolant levels. They seemed to be normal (although he’s not a RV8 expert).
In all this time the temperature gauge did not register any great increase in temperature. There was no evidence of a large spray of coolant in the engine bay (no great residue). The cap on the swirl pot is a little loose, but not excessively. The
I have driven the car since to check, and no problems at all have surfaced.
I’m still learning where bits are, and trusting other people’s knowledge. I’ve read about the swirl pot, and believe there is an overflow pipe, but where I don’t know. I’m assuming that (barring the better half simply having had a “blonde” moment) there was blow-off from the overflow. Is this something to worry about? Do I have to do something with the swirl pot?
Thanks for the help again.
I do occasionally get a problem where if you start it up not long after its been shut down it revs at 2200 rpm. The idle speed does come down again but with an exhaust as loud as mine you feel a right plonker!
(A typical example is a petrol station fillup).
What I have found is that it you just move the car 6 feet or so it immediately comes down again.
My theory (OK a guess) is that its the amount of fuel it throws through to start it up - along with any residual already in the manifolds from the previous running. Moving the car burns off the fuel (Thats guess 2).
I have used the car much more over the last couple of months and it seems to have all but stopped - so maybe its been the stepper motor sticking and regular use has freed it up (Thats guess 3).
I can't really help much with the coolant loss but check that your electric fan is working OK - mine seemed to be but when I investigated further the connector between the fan and loom was very poor - any movement and the fan stopped.
Some have run a wire from the fan motor to a light on the dash so they know when the fan is on - it might be worth considering even if as a temporary measure.
I had mine overheating pretty spectacularly when I started the engine after the rebuild - thats when I discovered the fan was iffy.
Check your pressure cap also - it needs a return valve in it - many don't have one and if thats the case over time I think the water level will drop as it escapes to the expansion tank and can't get back.
Also do you have a rubber washer under the big cap part of the pressure cap? (The reality is a bit of bike inner tube cut to fit).
If not it will spit it out from under the pressure cap rather than pushing it into the expansion tank.
Hope this helps
(A typical example is a petrol station fillup).
What I have found is that it you just move the car 6 feet or so it immediately comes down again.
My theory (OK a guess) is that its the amount of fuel it throws through to start it up - along with any residual already in the manifolds from the previous running. Moving the car burns off the fuel (Thats guess 2).
I have used the car much more over the last couple of months and it seems to have all but stopped - so maybe its been the stepper motor sticking and regular use has freed it up (Thats guess 3).
I can't really help much with the coolant loss but check that your electric fan is working OK - mine seemed to be but when I investigated further the connector between the fan and loom was very poor - any movement and the fan stopped.
Some have run a wire from the fan motor to a light on the dash so they know when the fan is on - it might be worth considering even if as a temporary measure.
I had mine overheating pretty spectacularly when I started the engine after the rebuild - thats when I discovered the fan was iffy.
Check your pressure cap also - it needs a return valve in it - many don't have one and if thats the case over time I think the water level will drop as it escapes to the expansion tank and can't get back.
Also do you have a rubber washer under the big cap part of the pressure cap? (The reality is a bit of bike inner tube cut to fit).
If not it will spit it out from under the pressure cap rather than pushing it into the expansion tank.
Hope this helps
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