Pressure build up rover 75

[Evasirius]

Hi everyone. My Rover 75 1.8T has Pressure building up in cooling system, top hose bulging. Water on floor dripping from under car. System bled by garage last month, internal heater takes a while to get warm but does eventually heat up. Head gasket had a full overhaul including skimming 2016. Car engine only done 74,000 miles. Used Steel Seal once. Car running well, no misfiring, no emulsification of oil. Any ideas on what it could be please. Bought car last August.:

[T-Cut]

The cooling system normally operates under pressure (up to 22psi or so), so do you mean there's excessive pressure? Is the header cap releasing coolant? If coolant isn't being ejected, the pressure may be normal for the temperature involved. Do you know the running temperature?

Does the radiator fan operate correctly? (Demist Test?)

You note the top hose is bulging, do you mean it feels hard or does it look balloon-like? If it's enlarging, it should be replaced because the internal structure is damaged.


TC

[roverbarmy]

Are you overfilling the header tank? The "Max" level is actually at the bottom of the visible section of the header tank. Overfilling will result in overflow via the pressure cap release. The "empty" top section of the tank is to allow for expansion. Always check when engine is absolutely cold.

[Evasirius]

Originally Posted by T-Cut

The cooling system normally operates under pressure (up to 22psi or so), so do you mean there's excessive pressure? Is the header cap releasing coolant? If coolant isn't being ejected, the pressure may be normal for the temperature involved. Do you know the running temperature?

Does the radiator fan operate correctly? (Demist Test?)

You note the top hose is bulging, do you mean it feels hard or does it look balloon-like? If it's enlarging, it should be replaced because the internal structure is damaged.


TC

Thank you for your input. Header cap has recently been replaced. It doesn't appear to be releasing fluid. I have added another bottle of Steel Seal this morning and there doesn't appear to be anymore fluid loss i.e. underneath car shows no damp on the Tarmac as before. Top hose, I think may be weak, and therefore bulges so may need replacing.

[Evasirius]

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

Are you overfilling the header tank? The "Max" level is actually at the bottom of the visible section of the header tank. Overfilling will result in overflow via the pressure cap release. The "empty" top section of the tank is to allow for expansion. Always check when engine is absolutely cold.

Hi, thank you for your reply. Not overfilling as have kept a keen eye on max level. Leak underneath stopped at mo. Put another bottle of Steel Seal in this morning. Will check if internal heating system any better tommorow. Hope it's just been an air lock. She drives like a dream! 😃

[suzublu]

Steel Seal

[Evasirius]

Originally Posted by suzublu

Steel Seal

Is this a post from a competitor of the company that make Steel Seal or just some kind of unhelpful form of attempted wit?

[slovcan]

Originally Posted by Evasirius

Is this a post from a competitor of the company that make Steel Seal or just some kind of unhelpful form of attempted wit?

I'm afraid those type of products generally fix the symptoms, but not the cause. They can sometimes get you out of trouble, but the future repair can be more difficult because of the product being in the engine.

In your case I think someone should have tried to find the source of the leak, maybe a cracked or deformed plastic Y-pipe or other plastic cooling system component. Your radiator hose does sound like it is due for replacement.
stick around. There is a wealth of help here.

How long ago was the head gasket replacement done? You may have said, but I can't remember.

Cheers,
Glenn

Edit: I see the head gasket was replaced 2 years ago. That shouldn't be at fault.

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Evasirius

Is this a post from a competitor of the company that make Steel Seal or just some kind of unhelpful form of attempted wit?

Hello Yvonne and to the club. I would like to explain suzublu's admittedly enigmatic post. It is actually not a good idea to put Steel Seal (or another product of the same type called K-Seal) into the cooling system. It is supposed to seal fissures in a head gasket. Firstly, we don't yet have reliable evidence that your head gasket is at fault and secondly sealing products of this kind can also seal parts which need to move, for example the thermostat in the cooling system.

So my advice is to cease putting Steel Seal into your engine immediately. You should also check that the radiator fan is working properly as T-Cut recommended. The way to do this (the so-called 'demist test') is as follows:

1. Start the engine from cold.
2. Press the windscreen demist button on the heating/air conditioning control panel.
3. Get out of the car and walk to the front grille. Can you hear the radiator fan making a continuous noise like a hairdryer?

Please report back with the answer as soon as possible.

Simon

[trikey]

The steel seal will be the cause of your heater taking a long time to get up to heat, the matrix will be full of the horrible stuff, blocking the thin channels.

I guess the passenger side vents are considerably colder than the drivers side?