Steaming? Normal?
Discussion
Not sure if this is an issue or not.
On two recent occasions I have either got stuck in a queue waiting to fill up or like yesterday waiting for a convoy to pass me to join on the way down to Goodwood. On both occasions I was probably 10 minutes from leaving home and the engine was still not completely warmed up. I was sitting idling whereby steam starts to issue from the gap in the bonnet above the fans. Quite a large amount of steam and enough for concern.
I was idling for some 15 minutes yesterday and watching the temps on the gauge and they never got much above the 70's and 80's but after a while the steam stopped.
When I got back home and after washing the car I had the bonnet off (still not done the bonnet mod!) and ran the car which was warm but temp for water only in the mid 60s steam again started to come off the rad matrix and in no particular spot but all over.
I assume that this is just water or moisture caught between the minuscule fins and evaporating off. Is this correct? It's just that I have never noticed before and wondered if others have seen this.
On two recent occasions I have either got stuck in a queue waiting to fill up or like yesterday waiting for a convoy to pass me to join on the way down to Goodwood. On both occasions I was probably 10 minutes from leaving home and the engine was still not completely warmed up. I was sitting idling whereby steam starts to issue from the gap in the bonnet above the fans. Quite a large amount of steam and enough for concern.
I was idling for some 15 minutes yesterday and watching the temps on the gauge and they never got much above the 70's and 80's but after a while the steam stopped.
When I got back home and after washing the car I had the bonnet off (still not done the bonnet mod!) and ran the car which was warm but temp for water only in the mid 60s steam again started to come off the rad matrix and in no particular spot but all over.
I assume that this is just water or moisture caught between the minuscule fins and evaporating off. Is this correct? It's just that I have never noticed before and wondered if others have seen this.
Nothing to worry about if it's anything like my Griffith. I'd imagine the bonnet shape directs water that runs off it straight onto the radiator. On numerous occasions I've had people frantically trying to attract my attention to the steam rising out of the gap between my bonnet and the bodywork (Something, I hasten to add, I'm looking straight at) I usually just smile and nod my thanks although one guy was very insistent I should pull over despite my saying I knew it wasn't a leak.
It happens after I've washed it and if it's raining and I brake to stop at traffic lights or a roundabout and the water just runs off the surface onto the radiator
It happens after I've washed it and if it's raining and I brake to stop at traffic lights or a roundabout and the water just runs off the surface onto the radiator
I left the car out overnight on Saturday and on firing it up on Sunday morning (after drizzle most of the night) I had an immediate case of steam issuing from the bonnet but from directly in front of the windscreen for about 30 seconds.
I assumed it was just water sitting on a component under the bonnet that had suddenly become 'live' but I was concerned because the steaming happened immediately I turned the car on with no lag for the engine or components warming up.
Still, it went as quickly as it came and the car had no untoward symptoms so I've just dismissed it as another TVR foible.
I assumed it was just water sitting on a component under the bonnet that had suddenly become 'live' but I was concerned because the steaming happened immediately I turned the car on with no lag for the engine or components warming up.
Still, it went as quickly as it came and the car had no untoward symptoms so I've just dismissed it as another TVR foible.
Thanks for the reassurance but this is happening when there is no moisture running off the bodywork but when stationary when the engine hasn't been running for long. Granted after washing the car there is bound to be water trapped on the rad matrix and hopefully this is what it is at this time of year.
Mine sets off a load of steam immediately after start up, between the main bonnet and windscreen and this is definitely just residual water dropping onto the exhaust manifold as that gets hot very quickly!
I would think the steam from around the rad is simply down to the ambient air temps to be so low at the moment and as the rad warms up, the small amount of surface water/condensation is burning off. I'd also check the coolant level isn't too high as this may force it out of the overflow pipe which can then drop onto/near the hot radiator.
I would think the steam from around the rad is simply down to the ambient air temps to be so low at the moment and as the rad warms up, the small amount of surface water/condensation is burning off. I'd also check the coolant level isn't too high as this may force it out of the overflow pipe which can then drop onto/near the hot radiator.
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