Car blowing Cold air (Not hot air) - water/fluent run out possibly ?

AdrianC

Hintza wrote: »

The thing is you need someone to teach you these skills and if you don't have that then you will never know. Most women wouldn't have a clue and neither would a hefty proportion of men.

It would only take a couple of lessons in school in say the 6th year to get enough information across to make a difference.

Or a single read of the handbook that came in the glovebox when the car was new...

Norman_Castle

It sounds to me like the thermostat has had it. If stuck open this would stop the engine reaching operating temperature.

If the thermostat is stuck open the engine will warm to a reasonable temperature at slow city speeds ( without the heater fan on ). Initial warm up will be slow. The engine temperature will drop when driving speed increases. The temperature gauge will show the drop. There will still be some heat from the heater.

Strider590

Norman_Castle wrote: »

If the thermostat is stuck open the engine will warm to a reasonable temperature at slow city speeds ( without the heater fan on ). Initial warm up will be slow. The engine temperature will drop when driving speed increases. The temperature gauge will show the drop. There will still be some heat from the heater.

It made a HUGE difference on my car, from barely any hot air to burn your face off, JUST from changing the stat.
Not to mention a 4 mpg increase since it was changed.

Speed dependant engine temp is the main sign.
If a stat sticks closed then expect overheating and considering the average Joe would ignore it, probably serious engine damage.

Norman_Castle

Danny_G wrote: »

How can it be 'tested' that the problem is that it is the fluid level which is low/ running out?

Remove the cap. Point your face at the hole. If you can't see any fluid, its low.

gabitzul

I am with Strider on this. OP, please please take your car to a garage who can check all this for you and identify if there is an issue and if yes where it is.

It will cost you a few crisp £20 notes but money well spent.

Mankysteve

Danny_G wrote: »

Does the cap 'have to' be removed when the engine is hot?

or can be removed in the morning, before the car has been driving (when it is cold) ?

does it matter, or yes?

Dude go seek proper mechanically help before you damage your car or yourself.

Never open a coolant cap on a hot engine ever.

If there's no water in the expansion vessel you've got a leak in the system. A blown thermostat wont cause low fluid level although it will cause the lack of heating. they usually have marking to indicate how much you should have.

Also a mechanic can pressure test the system to help find the leak.

The way to test a thermostat is to remove it from the car and place in hot water around 70c and see if the stat opens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGkSfPbGr3Y

Everyone who drives should know how to check all the important fluid levels and Tyre depth. Ignorance is no excuse for driving a unsafe vehicle, that doesn't mean you need to know how to fix the issues just know how to check basic diagnostic things.