10 replies to this topic

[rodandtom]

Hi,

1293, '94 Sprite. Took it for a run the other day. All was good. Ran really well. Temp gauge was ok but when I got home both wings were hot to the touch. Even the headlight glass was hot. In the bay everything was too hot to touch from the rocker cover down.

I'm worried my head gasket is cooked. There was no mayonnaise in the cap but it was low on oil. Although oil pressure was ok and didn't change. When it cooled down I drained the coolant (which was mostly water as I hadn't put the right mix of coolant in. The water was brown but not oily ( to my view). I flushed the system with a house until it ran pretty clear, refilled with the right mix of coolant this time. Topped the oil up a d took her out again. Ran even better. I can't tell if my head gasket is stuffed or not. If it isn't, them why the hell is my engine bay so bloomin hot?
Any ideas?

[nicklouse]

Does not sound like you have a problem.

 

but you could do a compression test.

[rodandtom]

Does not sound like you have a problem.

but you could do a compression test.

Good idea.

How do you tell If your water pumpnisnt pumping? I wondered if the coolant wasn't circulating.

[Midas Mk1]

After doing something like London to Brighton, the near side wing and wheel is red hot.
I'd get a digital laser thermometer gun off eBay to check, but they do get warm. When a mini engine gets hot they give off a hot smell.

[nicklouse]

 

Does not sound like you have a problem.

but you could do a compression test.

Good idea.

How do you tell If your water pumpnisnt pumping? I wondered if the coolant wasn't circulating.

 

Cold engine. Remove rad cap. Rev engine while watching the water level. It should drop and come back up as the water is pumped.

[richmondclassicsnorthwales]

Antifreeze is not only to stop the water freezing, it is also a coolant, so see how you get on now.

[johnR]

have you had the fan off recently and installed it the wrong way round?

[rodandtom]

have you had the fan off recently and installed it the wrong way round?

Sadly not

[Alice Dooper]

If all is ok with the engine, gaskets and cooling system, have you considered wrapping the exhaust manifold??  
 

Anything on the front grill blocking the airflow in?

[nicklouse]

Don’t wrap the exhaust manifold. It crystallises the steel and they fail. And you just end up moving the heat further along the system so you get a hot floor pan.

[MiNiKiN]

have you had the fan off recently and installed it the wrong way round?

and it prevents corrosion in the engine's water ways. Good job that is, cause rust prevents efficient heat exchange between metal and water.