1.8 Conn Auto Pressurising cooling system

201964 · 28th October 2011, 16:59

History:
Hose burst
Hose fixed
Car pressurising cooling system, hoses hard.
Blows water out when cap loosened.
Car drives no more than 10 miles before fan comes on flat out. Radiator hot (Don't suspect thermo stat, its the remote type)
Temperature guage normal
Temperature gauge rising quickly when going up hill (engine working harder) noticeable reduction in power when guage rises. Then drops when on flat road.
Car heater always gives out heat (not airlock!)
No oil in water, water in oil
Radiator cap replaced, no different
Engine management light flashes then stays on
Took head off gasket looks fine, no breaches
Head checked for flatness and pitting, nothing found.
New Multilayer gasket fitted and put on gasket sealant to be sure.
Head put on and engine started
Same problems all over again
So proves head gasket was fine, I have another problem!
Anyone know what it is????/

chrissyboy · 28th October 2011, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by 201964

History:
Hose burst
Hose fixed
Car pressurising cooling system, hoses hard.
Blows water out when cap loosened.
Car drives no more than 10 miles before fan comes on flat out. Radiator hot (Don't suspect thermo stat, its the remote type)
Temperature guage normal
Temperature gauge rising quickly when going up hill (engine working harder) noticeable reduction in power when guage rises. Then drops when on flat road.
Car heater always gives out heat (not airlock!)
No oil in water, water in oil
Radiator cap replaced, no different
Engine management light flashes then stays on
Took head off gasket looks fine, no breaches
Head checked for flatness and pitting, nothing found.
New Multilayer gasket fitted and put on gasket sealant to be sure.
Head put on and engine started
Same problems all over again
So proves head gasket was fine, I have another problem!
Anyone know what it is????/

cracked head ? or stuck stat or air in system or blocked rad,also i thoght the gasket was a dry seal one i may be wrong ,im sure someone will correct me on tha t...

201964 · 28th October 2011, 17:50

Radiator heats up as normal after the thermostat opens, Head didn't have any cracks in it. No air locks system bled each time. Its the pressurising of the system and the guage rising when going up a hill and back down when you level out is the mystery

RoverInTheWoods · 28th October 2011, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by 201964

Radiator heats up as normal after the thermostat opens, Head didn't have any cracks in it. No air locks system bled each time. Its the pressurising of the system and the guage rising when going up a hill and back down when you level out is the mystery

Radiator blocked? Does is get hot all over?

chrissyboy · 28th October 2011, 18:09

there has to be a blockage or air in the system for it to back up and pressurise as you say is happening .a members car was doing similar turned out to be a cracked head

T-Cut · 28th October 2011, 18:11

What year is it? Has this started recently or has it always run hot? Do you have any repairs history?

TC

201964 · 28th October 2011, 18:37

2003! 62k miles Head and gasket changed last year, everything ok until I'm driving up a steep hill and a radiator hose burst. Fixed hose and then system pressurises. Radiator get hot all over but I'm going to take it out anyway and flush, I'm dreading the cracked head scenario, is there something I could add to the water if that is the case?

RoverInTheWoods · 28th October 2011, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by 201964

I'm dreading the cracked head scenario, is there something I could add to the water if that is the case?

Copious amounts of whisky and drink it to drown your sorrows?

marinabrian · 28th October 2011, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by 201964

History:
Hose burst
Hose fixed
Car pressurising cooling system, hoses hard.
Blows water out when cap loosened.
Car drives no more than 10 miles before fan comes on flat out. Radiator hot (Don't suspect thermo stat, its the remote type)
Temperature guage normal
Temperature gauge rising quickly when going up hill (engine working harder) noticeable reduction in power when guage rises. Then drops when on flat road.
Car heater always gives out heat (not airlock!)
No oil in water, water in oil
Radiator cap replaced, no different
Engine management light flashes then stays on
Took head off gasket looks fine, no breaches
Head checked for flatness and pitting, nothing found.
New Multilayer gasket fitted and put on gasket sealant to be sure.
Head put on and engine started
Same problems all over again
So proves head gasket was fine, I have another problem!
Anyone know what it is????/

Pressurisation in the jacket water is symptomatic of two things, the presence of exhaust gas, or indeed airlocks.
What makes you so sure that an effective seal has been achieved by replacement of the head gasket, you don't mention if you've had the head skimmed, or pressure tested. As to using sealant on the joint faces, it's an absolute no no.
I'd place my money on a cracked head here, or perhaps sunken liners?, if the liner protrusion is less than .0002", then the older style polymer bead gasket is better suited to produce a gas tight seal.
Do a compression test, both cold and hot, and post up the results.
Hope you get to the bottom of this.
Brian

201964 · 28th October 2011, 19:09

Will do pressure test in morning! I've also been told to run car and let pressurise cooling system let sit over night. Remove plugs and check if water has seeped back into any of the cylinders.

28th October 2011, 16:59	#1
201964 Newbie Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Eglinton Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1.8 Conn Auto Pressurising cooling system History: Hose burst Hose fixed Car pressurising cooling system, hoses hard. Blows water out when cap loosened. Car drives no more than 10 miles before fan comes on flat out. Radiator hot (Don't suspect thermo stat, its the remote type) Temperature guage normal Temperature gauge rising quickly when going up hill (engine working harder) noticeable reduction in power when guage rises. Then drops when on flat road. Car heater always gives out heat (not airlock!) No oil in water, water in oil Radiator cap replaced, no different Engine management light flashes then stays on Took head off gasket looks fine, no breaches Head checked for flatness and pitting, nothing found. New Multilayer gasket fitted and put on gasket sealant to be sure. Head put on and engine started Same problems all over again So proves head gasket was fine, I have another problem! Anyone know what it is????/ Last edited by 201964; 28th October 2011 at 17:06.. Reason: More info!

28th October 2011, 18:09	#5
chrissyboy This is my second home lovely little ford focus. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: East Dulwich Posts: 7,877 Thanks: 2 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts	there has to be a blockage or air in the system for it to back up and pressurise as you say is happening .a members car was doing similar turned out to be a cracked head __________________ [ I'm really confused. -I keep dreaming I'm an insomniac

28th October 2011, 17:50	#3
201964 Newbie Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Eglinton Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Radiator heats up as normal after the thermostat opens, Head didn't have any cracks in it. No air locks system bled each time. Its the pressurising of the system and the guage rising when going up a hill and back down when you level out is the mystery

28th October 2011, 18:11	#6
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,752 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	What year is it? Has this started recently or has it always run hot? Do you have any repairs history? TC

28th October 2011, 18:37	#7
201964 Newbie Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Eglinton Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	2003! 62k miles Head and gasket changed last year, everything ok until I'm driving up a steep hill and a radiator hose burst. Fixed hose and then system pressurises. Radiator get hot all over but I'm going to take it out anyway and flush, I'm dreading the cracked head scenario, is there something I could add to the water if that is the case?

28th October 2011, 19:09	#10
201964 Newbie Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Eglinton Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Will do pressure test in morning! I've also been told to run car and let pressurise cooling system let sit over night. Remove plugs and check if water has seeped back into any of the cylinders.