Steaming!?

[zebedee]

After picking the car up on thursday, whilst siting in traffic twice now on reaching upper 80 degrees for the first time (ie whilst still warming up) steam has come out of the front bonnet vents and condensed on the outside of the window. It was just for a second or two and once moving and temp drops down to usual mid 80s it doesn't do it again. Is this common (pressure release) or should I be doing something about it?

[Bonce]

This is absolutely normal and nothing to worry about. It's simply water dripping onto your hot radiator from the bodywork or the sky.

Keep an eye on your temp gauge though, if it gets above 100 degrees then it's time to start worrying.

[Gargamel]

yep its the horizontal radiator - the internal systems are fine - but the external water boils after about five minutes and steams

also you may notice if you hit 50 mph after parking in the rain water sprays onto the windscreen !

[MilesForrest]

Yep, it will steam a bit.

If there is a *lot* of steam then keep a close eye on the temp. I've had the hose fall of the radiator and a friend has had it fall of the header tank.

Up to a 100 is normal if it is a hot day and you get stuck in traffic. IIRC it is time to stop if it reaches 115 or 120 (think it states in the manual), however this only really happens when the water is too low. Keep an eye on the header tank as it seems quite common for is to slowly leak (those dodgy connctors again).

[zebedee]

cheers guys, haven't seen it go over 90 yet so not unduly worried!