Driving without thermostat?

[marky]

DEBBIE if you need a SURF friendly garage to take a look at it see STEVO in Stockport. He wont rip you off. I know its quite far but it will save you a lot of money in the long run.

[andy]

today problems started again, losing loads of water! had been driving for about 10mins, parked up to go to the shop, came back and water was pouring from underneath the Surf. Lifted the bonnet to check, there was no steam or sign of overheating. There hadn't been any indication of a problem with temp guage before hand. Radiator, hoses etc were hot as should be, not like before when had problem with themostat. I checked the rad and expansion bottle, both were empty! Topped up with what water I had with me, then made my way home. When got home, topped up the rad fully, and bottle half way, then took it around the block to test it and it was fine, no sign of any leaking!?! Yet 10mins before it had been !!!!ing out, all over the supermarket carpark. Any ideas any one? could it be down to an air lock? sometimes hear water gurgling around the heaters when first starting up, but heaters work fine!
p.s. the radiator has not long been recored, and the water was coming from the bottom somewhere, possibly a hose?

If you are hearing water gurgling that is a good sign of an air lock in the system, the thing that's strange is that you have had a new engine and radiator, but no mention of a new rad cap, only a few quid but they can cause loads of problems.

[Debbie.gsd]

Hi, it has had a new rad cap as well,when the rad was recored. It also had a new water pump fitted, but unfortunately that is now on the old engine, sitting on my drive. It will of course be taken off before the engine goes, as it's only a couple of months old. Just might be needing it!?

[Silversurfer]

Coolant Loss

From what you say air lock sounds most likely cause. Air bubbles can get trapped when filling radiator, especially after complete coolant drain/change.
The air usually gets trapped in the heater. As the coolant heats up the air bubbles compress and eventually pressure lifts the radiator cap and blows coolant out. I had a v6 Capri once that was prone to this. Only real cure I found was turn the heater on full and take off the top heater hose from the front bulkhead, stick a small funnel into the end of it and raise it as high as possible and fill the coolant system that way. The extra head of water used to force the air bubbles right through the system and out through the top of the rad.

[Debbie.gsd]

Hi, yeah I definitely feel it's more than likely an air lock! It didn't force the water through the rad cap, it seemed as tho pressure was forcing water through hoses if anything, as the water was pouring from the bottom somewhere, but noticed the hoses were dripping water as well, but they weren't loose or split. I've been driving the Surf since and not a hint of a problem, no leaking at all! I will try what you suggested, as it's a pain not knowing when it's suddenly going to start playing up again, and I do a lot of driving back and forward to dog shows, so need to know it's reliable! Yeah right!

[marky]

DEBBIE what are you doing with the old Engine as im interested in it.

[Debbie.gsd]

Hi, sorry not got back sooner! We hadn't decided what to do with it, we want to take the water pump off as it's new, but after that, not sure. We were in two minds whether to keep it incase we needed bits off it, but it's just taking up room on the drive at the moment. Not sure what is of any use on it, the mechanic swopped a few bits'n'pieces from it to the engine in the Surf now!

[marky]

Hi, sorry not got back sooner! We hadn't decided what to do with it, we want to take the water pump off as it's new, but after that, not sure. We were in two minds whether to keep it incase we needed bits off it, but it's just taking up room on the drive at the moment. Not sure what is of any use on it, the mechanic swopped a few bits'n'pieces from it to the engine in the Surf now!

I'LL take whats left off your hands if you like.

[steveninspain]

i have never had a stat in my 2.4, its $$$$$$ hot here to, up to 47 degrees, so far its been 2 years and no probs, but then i never get any traffic jams

[Antshiel]

The car should never be driven without a stat, it's there for a reason. The longer you run the engine without one the more damage you will suffer long term. The stat regulates the flow of coolant around the system ensuring it is kept at a near constant temp. When i bought mine, the previous owner told me there were no overheating problems and that he had replaced the rad cap and stat. Not true, he had replaced the rad cap and removed the stat, obviously to overcome overheating problems. Two months later a trip to Stevo with a seriously cracked head cost me the best part of £1100. It sounds like your head is on its way out and removing the stat will only lengthen the process, slowing the heating of the system and not cooling sufficiently. Erratic fluctuations in engine temps is what causes the head to crack. Renew the stat and rad cap asap and have the head pressure tested, this should tell you if the head has already gone or on its way. Good luck and don't drive without a stat

[dieselboy]

Hi, thanks for your replies! Feel a lot better about driving it to the show tomorrow! I bought this Surf from a dealer back in April last year. It's been driving ok without the thermostat, but no great distance, just concerned about it overheating while on motorway.

did you notice your temp did the opposite of what you thought it would? eg, once on the motorway the engine temp froze?

[dieselboy]

whats these 'old post revival' ?