62 replies to this topic

[TheFabMini]

Hello everyone, I’m currently sat at the side of the road waiting for the engine to cool down...

Water pump new 300 miles ago
Just fitted a new head gasket
New silicone hoses
Flushed through the radiator
82 degree thermostat
Checked the timing and mixture as best I know
Fan belt isn’t slipping.

But driving along the car won’t go below 100 degrees C at 45mph and if I try to accelerate it jumps to 105 degrees and we get steam...

Engine sounds happy but it just won’t stay cool!

What else can I do?!

[KTS]

..fan on the right way round ?

[viz139]

Was it overheating prior to you changing the water pump?

Have you done a compression test?

[TheFabMini]

Was it overheating prior to you changing the water pump?
Have you done a compression test?

Nope, last year was running fine but the fan was leaking so I replaced it. That was last summer and I drove it a few hundred miles no problem..
the car wasn’t used between October and April but so far I’ve only managed to limp to the mot station... I suspected the head gasket as I’ve replaced it before but was with the cheapest minispares kit so have put on a good quality composite one.

[Steve220]

Does it lose coolant? Could be a cracked head, liner/bore, fan on the wrong way round

[Alpenflitzer]

Is the radiator really clean? Flsuhing alone is of no worth! Put decalcinator from a coffee machine (5 times the quantity you need for coffee machine) over night and than flush 2-3 times thouroughly

The Fan: Correctly mounted?

Correct sparks?

What about if you run on the heater? Does temperature goes back?

[TheFabMini]

Is the radiator really clean? Flsuhing alone is of no worth! Put decalcinator from a coffee machine (5 times the quantity you need for coffee machine) over night and than flush 2-3 times thouroughly
The Fan: Correctly mounted?
Correct sparks?
What about if you run on the heater? Does temperature goes back?

I used a mix of washing machine descaler and white vinegar for a few hours... admittedly the inside of the radiator did still look a bit crusty but I didn’t want to replace it as it doesn’t leak yet... perhaps for the price I should just order a cheap one from eBay and see if that solves it?!
Fans correct
Champion spark plugs
And I don’t have a heater, have had it bypassed for a while but never had an issue last year with overheating, crept up a bit in traffic but as soon as I got moving it would be happy again.

[TheFabMini]

As it’s the only thing I’ve not replace I’ll just get a radiator and see if that helps
What’s best? A lot of people seem to like those fletcher alloy ones???

I’m supposed to be driving a bridal party next weekend and have no more days off! So I’m limited to what I can fix myself in the evenings this week.

Any recommendations/links please?!

[cal844]

Refit that heater matrix, fit a Fletcher radiator and an auxillary fan between the rad and the inner wing

[Spider]

Is it really over-heating?

 

Have you checked the Temp by another means yet?

 

The gauges are often out.

[MikeRotherham]

Have you renewed the radiator cap?

 

If so is it the correct one for your setup?

[gazza82]

Is it really over-heating?

 

Have you checked the Temp by another means yet?

 

The gauges are often out.

 

Think the OP mentioned steam.

 

I guess that could be an incorrectly fitting radiator cap too ..

[TheFabMini]

Is it really over-heating?

Have you checked the Temp by another means yet?

The gauges are often out.

It’s weird. It doesn’t smell hot... but yeah steam comes pouring out of the green tube at the top of the radiator.
The gauge is a new smiths mechanical one so hopefully should be quite accurate.
Ordered a new radiator and cap as well as an electric fan...I’m running out of time for this wedding next weekend so if this doesn’t solve it I’m completely stumped as then the entire cooling system is brand new!

[Steve8274]

Has the system been bled properly. If air in system, this can cause issues

[nicklouse]

 

Is it really over-heating?

Have you checked the Temp by another means yet?

The gauges are often out.

It’s weird. It doesn’t smell hot... but yeah steam comes pouring out of the green tube at the top of the radiator.
The gauge is a new smiths mechanical one so hopefully should be quite accurate.
Ordered a new radiator and cap as well as an electric fan...I’m running out of time for this wedding next weekend so if this doesn’t solve it I’m completely stumped as then the entire cooling system is brand new!

 

but the block and head are not. you will need some cleaner in the system to remove the rust. give this a try and READ the instructions

http://www.theminifo...native/?hl=+clr