over heating problem

[chrissyboy]

i agree with artic that its the missing bolt for the stat housing that is the problem here .it just can not be sealed with one bolt on one side .

[Arctic]

Originally Posted by chrissyboy

i agree with artic that its the missing bolt for the stat housing that is the problem here .it just can not be sealed with one bolt on one side .

Hi Chrissy
I have not said its the bolt but that i may have one Graham rang me today and asked if i may know why his car is over heating once he explained about cold hose and some water in the V i said it maybe the thermost housing leaking slowly at the moment or the thermostat could be stuck closed and that he needs to investigate/ carry out a systematic search as to why.

So the bolt would not be the cause i doubt

[kaiser]

Originally Posted by Le Mans 190

Lost lots of water when the car over heated

Undoubtedly it did.

But let me tell you what has happened, as a distinct possibility.

You have most likely?? not checked your water as often as I always tell you all to do, have you? (which is, by the way daily, or at least weekly)
Your car has developed a leak, somewhere. Most likely the water pump, or perhaps the two pipes in front of the radiator, or maybe even the inlet manifold gaskets. (For it does not look to me this has come out at the thermostat). You have been driving around with close to half the water missing, most likely for weeks! and then it overheated and lost even more.

You can 90% dismiss this theory by stating that you DID check the water, just before you used the car, but I think chances are you haven't done that for a while.

So the car is most likely fine, still, apart from a slow leak, that you now have to go and search for.!

This is the reason why checking of water is first on the list for any driver of these cars. They are fine until they aren't. And it goes from fine to not, in a bat of an eye. Because the underlying cause goes unnoticed for a while owing to no physical checks.

The temperature gauge is useless, get used to it.!

At the moment, you most likely also have trapped air in the system (vapour lock/air lock) and you will have to top up a number of times to get rid of that. Or go and find a post of Simon

The problem though is going to persist, as even this new coolant, most likely, will also be lost.

Check you water pump! might well be the problem, leaking.

And to Chrissy. Even without the bolt in there, there is not much evidence of serious water loss from this thermostat, at least I can't see it, so I have to go by that. If there is no evidence, there (often-not always!) is most likely no crime.!

[Le Mans 190]

I am sure you are right Kaiser
the car is checked on a weekly basis as a rule but I must have forgot for one reason or other

I am happy to go with what was discussed with Arctic on the phone yesterday my reasoning behind this is

going to the car today the V was dry as a bone but after only a few minutes ticking over there was water lying in the same place once more

after taking the bottom hose off and running water though the rad I am happy with the result of that, However pushing water up the bottom hose
I was meet with a blockage which I would put down to the thermostat being closed/blocked for one reason or another

so I will replace this first if that turns out not to be the reason
then I will look at changing the water pump

thanks everyone for all your input

Graham

Can anyone help with the missing bolt if only with the size so that I can get one elsewhere

[kaiser]

The bolt is m8 1.25, the thread is 14mm deep.
So you need a bolt that has the length above the hole ( the fastener thicknesses plus a washer) plus about 10mm, which will give you a clearance of about 4mm when fully home.

I can't tell you the exact length, because I don't use the plastic thermostat and pipes.

But if you measure, you will be right.

The obstruction you see is most likely the thermostat, which is supposed to be closed at anything below about 80 degrees. So no surprise there.

[Le Mans 190]

Originally Posted by kaiser

The bolt is m8 1.25, the thread is 14mm deep.
So you need a bolt that has the length above the hole ( the fastener thicknesses plus a washer) plus about 10mm, which will give you a clearance of about 4mm when fully home.

I can't tell you the exact length, because I don't use the plastic thermostat and pipes.

But if you measure, you will be right.

The obstruction you see is most likely the thermostat, which is supposed to be closed at anything below about 80 degrees. So no surprise there.

Thanks for your help

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Le Mans 190

... going to the car today the V was dry as a bone but after only a few minutes ticking over there was water lying in the same place once more

You may well have a minor leak in the 'V' but that alone would not result in the engine overheating unless you neglected to check the coolant level in the long term. You have said that this is not the case.

... pushing water up the bottom hose I was meet with a blockage which I would put down to the thermostat being closed/blocked for one reason or another

You can't check for K-seal interfering with the operation of the thermostat like that. You will need to start dismantling to look for a blockage between the bottom of the radiator and the engine. That means getting physical access to the thermostat housing and at least removing the hoses from it, but I'd advise removal so that you can check it properly.

...then I will look at changing the water pump ..

Inspecting or temporarily by-passing the engine oil cooler would be a better bet. That has been known to be affected by K-seal.

Can anyone help with the missing bolt if only with the size so that I can get one elsewhere

If you have no luck, it's available under an MG Rover part number.

Simon

[Le Mans 190]

Well time for an update

Decided to strip the car and see what I can find
took all the top off to get to the thermostat housing as I didn't feel I could get to it via the "Keyhole" how to

Replaced the thermostat and the elbow pipe as this pipe was found to be broken and just sitting in the hole

Next was all water pipes and check for any blockages (All clear)
the rad was next and had that checked by a local firm (All ok)

so all went back together without any issues started up and ran
as it should do
seems I have sorted out the over heating I am glad to say
I have also got a new water pump sitting here waiting to go on

there's a new battery on order that will turn up tue/wed

and that just leaves me to say thanks to everyone for their input
Arctic was a star as normal and also thanks to Mofo for the bolt

Back to enjoying the 190 now

[Le Mans 190]

New batteries on and all is well now after a good old fashion thrash up and down the bypass

[trikey]

Originally Posted by Le Mans 190

New batteries on and all is well now after a good old fashion thrash up and down the bypass

Good man!

Remember to check your water level over the next day or two