Serious overheating

[watership down]

I have a problem with overheating on my '87 G HCI. I run the engine for about 15 min from cold and the temp goes up to 140C!!. I think the themostat is opening because the waterpipe from the themostat housing is very hot. The pipe that goes into the radiator at the front is cold (in/out)The water comes out of the expansion tank overflow like a tap. I have had the rad hoses off and run water through the radiator tonight and it is clear. If it is a air lock how the hell do you get rid of it. Or, sadly, is it something more ominous.

[mike.griese]

If the hoses near the radiator are not getting hot, you either have a duff thermostat or broken water pump. Don't run it like this. You could damage the head easily.

Mike

[deecee]

If its an Air Lock....

There is a 5" Round Access Panel located at the Base of the Left Front Headlight Motor, accessable thru the Front Luggage Compartment.

Unscrew the Panel and you will be able to see the Bleeder Valve loacted at the Top Upper Left Corner of the Rad.

Unscrew it by hand until the Air is Purged a Steady Stream of Coolant comes out.

>> Edited by deecee on Tuesday 31st May 04:24

[cnh1990]

check the thermostat by removing it from the car and then drop it in a pan of water on the stove with a thermometer in the water and see when it opens up.

If the pipes are clogged you will have to clear them out with a snake. I am assuming the pump belt is intact and spinning the impeller.

A lot of people get the air bubble out by jacking up the front of the car while hitting bleeder.

[splashout1]

As has already been said start by looking at the air lock it is very easy to get one! If this is not the cause then do not simply rely on boiling the thermostat on the stove i just had some very similar events on mine and did this and it opened and closed lovely but when on the car it would overheat.

If you have the remote thermostat(i know it changed but not sure when) which i do then try this.

I would suggest try setting up the system without a thermostat at all (replace the hose at the bottom with one that connects to the aluminium pipe) and then run if all is ok the system should stuggle to generate any heat at all. If this is the case replace the thermostat and then test again.

I did this and it was fine so obviously something funny going on with the thermostat.

Good luck

[cnh1990]

Just out of curiosity did you or anyone replace the thermostat? I have seen a person install one backwards and when that happens it does not open correctly.

[splashout1]

lol how did they manage that?

Nope mine was correct way, can only think that when the radiator blew and car got hot that this somehow affected the thermostat?

[watership down]

Thanks for the information, it was an airlock, it took me 2 days to get rid of it!! A lot of banging in the pipes and getting sprayed with coolant from the bleeder valve added to the fun. Has anyone washed the engine in an Esprit, if so, did you have any problems from water on the plugs etc

[cnh1990]

No problems with washing the engine. I use a pressure washer and a steam cleaner. I cover the coil packs with plastic. Use a wet/dry vac to suck up water from the plug wells. Use a straw or plastic tube and cover the rest of the vac hose opening with your hand.