Any mechanics about...

The_Economist

Had a thought if you are driving and not losing water, engine is under pressure, water is traveling round engine under pressure, car stops not so much pressure hmmm water pump or radiator?

scheming_gypsy

what i was thinking is that (hopefully) as the fan isn't working its not cooling down and the water is boiling dry.

Hopefully if the weather doesn't try drowning me tomorrow i'll try and have a play.

From what i can remember it never goes over 90 but the fan would always come on when i parked up and i can't see the fan not coming on if there was a head gasket fault?
Last weekend i nipped out:
about 7 miles to pick something up. Ignition off for about 2 minutes. Then a 20 minute trip and ignition off for for 5 minutes, 40 minute trip and ignition off for about 2 minutes, 40 minute trip back to Asda, ignition off about 30 minutes and then the water light came on..
thats why i think / convincing myself it could be the fan not doing its job so its using more water..

albertross_2

It a sealed system, so to boil dry, it would need a way out.

Best to do any testing in the dry, the rain (steam) will give you some false signals. How much water are you having to put in per week?

Still got a job?

The_Economist

If i'm right the fan is kinda secondary or emergencey cooling system. When said car runs, water and oil flow round to keep engine cool. If water is getting to hot thats when fan kicks in. Now this is only as a last resort and should not be running all the time. Not sure why your temp guage stays the same, so could also be faulty.

scheming_gypsy

albertross wrote: »

Still got a job?

no mate, lost it today.. b*stards wouldn't even let me resign.

scheming_gypsy

The_Economist wrote: »

If i'm right the fan is kinda secondary or emergencey cooling system. When said car runs, water and oil flow round to keep engine cool. If water is getting to hot thats when fan kicks in. Now this is only as a last resort and should not be running all the time. Not sure why your temp guage stays the same, so could also be faulty.

sounds about right but the fan usually kicks in, i don't do many miles but i can remember it kicking in more often than not when i'd just parked up and not heard it for a while.

The temp goes to a maximum of 90, it does drop but never goes past 90.

Stephen_Leak

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

no mate, lost it today.. b*stards wouldn't even let me resign.

May the flies of a thousand camels infest their backsides!

Anyway, back to your car. If it is a sealed system, when did you last check or replace the coolant system filler cap? On a sealed system, it should have a pressure safety valve in it. If the rubber in this fails with the heat and passage of time, it can cause all manner of weird and wonderful cooling system problems. The system isn't sealed anymore, so it would be the mysterious "way out" that Albertross alludes to.

The_Economist

If you get a chance tomorrow have ago doing what albertross said in post 12 and post back. Might give you, us a better idea what we are dealing with. If it is the head gasket it 'aint gonna be cheap.

scheming_gypsy

Albert - for references i've put down my line manager so that should be ok, he'll give me a decent reference. Also put my boss who left a few months back so he should give me a decent one too.

Stephen... ummmmmmmmmm


Economist... i'll give it a whirl tomorrow.

scheming_gypsy

probably looking around £500 for the head gasket, just had to pay a £400 bill today as well