Cooling problems - Help please
Discussion
Hello all…long time no speak.
Can anyone help me with this?
Had a good blast in the Cerb. Temperature as good as gold, although initially no response from the gauge until circa 70 deg.
Just parking up and dial flicked to 130 deg then back down to 85 deg. I put it down to TVR quirk, but just before turning engine off, I got a plume of steam coming from the neck of the expansion tank.
Next morning, largish pool of water under the front nearside. Refilled the exp tank and openied the bleed valves. There had clearly been an air lock as it took litres and litres to fill.
Temperature still as good as gold, (85-100 deg), fans come in perfectly at 95 ish, but clouds and clouds of steam blowing from the expansion tank pressure cap. Any ideas? Could it just be a faulty cap?
TIA
Can anyone help me with this?
Had a good blast in the Cerb. Temperature as good as gold, although initially no response from the gauge until circa 70 deg.
Just parking up and dial flicked to 130 deg then back down to 85 deg. I put it down to TVR quirk, but just before turning engine off, I got a plume of steam coming from the neck of the expansion tank.
Next morning, largish pool of water under the front nearside. Refilled the exp tank and openied the bleed valves. There had clearly been an air lock as it took litres and litres to fill.
Temperature still as good as gold, (85-100 deg), fans come in perfectly at 95 ish, but clouds and clouds of steam blowing from the expansion tank pressure cap. Any ideas? Could it just be a faulty cap?
TIA
It maybe the Head Gasket I'm afraid. I am sure someone with more knowledge than me will be along in a moment to put me right, but it sounds like the gasket is leaking the pressure out of the chamber into the Water Jacket, and this is firing Water and steam out of the Expansion tank. Fluctating temp gauge is also a sign - this is when the steam passes the sender I guess.
Don't drive it mate, and get it seen to. This could warp the heads if you are not careful.
Sorry to be the bringer of bad news - I hope I am wrong. Budget about £1800....
Steve
Don't drive it mate, and get it seen to. This could warp the heads if you are not careful.
Sorry to be the bringer of bad news - I hope I am wrong. Budget about £1800....
Steve
Thanks Steve
Sounds awful. I have spoken to Castle who reckon that they have seen this before a few times, and it was a faulty cap (they even have them on the shelf). I have ordered a new one and will try it with a careful eye on the temp. Even if the gasket has blown through, as long as the temp stays down, I should be ok shouldn't I?
Cheers
David
Sounds awful. I have spoken to Castle who reckon that they have seen this before a few times, and it was a faulty cap (they even have them on the shelf). I have ordered a new one and will try it with a careful eye on the temp. Even if the gasket has blown through, as long as the temp stays down, I should be ok shouldn't I?
Cheers
David
DavidP.
If it is the cap then all will be well. I'm afraid I doubt this, since a faulty cap WOULD lead to water and steam coming out of the top, but shouldn't lead to airlocks.....
The worry for you is the "Spikes" in temperature, during this localised parts of the engine are getting up to high temperatures, causing large heat cycling/temperature gradients, which I believe can cause the warping.
I would be VERY careful if you were going to drive it. If the Gasket is shot, then even when the engine is relatively cold it will still be pumping air into the water.
I had this on my old car, which is why I know something of the problem.
Costs to bear in mind...
Engine out to fix the gasket - £1800 (From TVR Dealer)
New Head - £1500 each.
So be careful with your heads. If you have two cars I would be tempted to use the other one to get the Expansion cap from the dealer, just in case. Then run the car, and if you get the problem still don't go far from the house, and then I'm afraid it is bad news.
If I'm right (I've been wrong numerous times before)
Very best of luck - I hope it is just the cap, which would be £5 max
Oh. TVR/dealers will probably try and tell you that the head gaskets don't usually go - so it could be more sinister. I have spoken to a few people that they have gone on, so this seems to be slightly misleading.
Let us know how it goes.
Steve
If it is the cap then all will be well. I'm afraid I doubt this, since a faulty cap WOULD lead to water and steam coming out of the top, but shouldn't lead to airlocks.....
The worry for you is the "Spikes" in temperature, during this localised parts of the engine are getting up to high temperatures, causing large heat cycling/temperature gradients, which I believe can cause the warping.
I would be VERY careful if you were going to drive it. If the Gasket is shot, then even when the engine is relatively cold it will still be pumping air into the water.
I had this on my old car, which is why I know something of the problem.
Costs to bear in mind...
Engine out to fix the gasket - £1800 (From TVR Dealer)
New Head - £1500 each.
So be careful with your heads. If you have two cars I would be tempted to use the other one to get the Expansion cap from the dealer, just in case. Then run the car, and if you get the problem still don't go far from the house, and then I'm afraid it is bad news.
If I'm right (I've been wrong numerous times before)
Very best of luck - I hope it is just the cap, which would be £5 max
Oh. TVR/dealers will probably try and tell you that the head gaskets don't usually go - so it could be more sinister. I have spoken to a few people that they have gone on, so this seems to be slightly misleading.
Let us know how it goes.
Steve
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