heat exchange

[tonysyorks]

Had probs last summer towing caravan, overheating. Feared the worse ie head. had acouple of tests done that said it was ok but to tbh, still not convinced. can hear a constant trickle of water sound coming from behind heater controls and a non surf owner suggested i check heat exchange.
any ideas.
I love my beast and don't want it to die

[TonyN]

If you have a airlock somewhere, there won't be enough water in the system, or it could be a blocked heater matrix, try flushing it out with a hose, both of these make noises in the heater as water runs down though it.

a weak rad cap, blocked rad, dodgy 'stat etc all need checking.

What do you have? manual/auto, 2.4 3.0???

[tonysyorks]

Thanks TonyN for your swift reply. Fitted new rad + stat & cap in summer.
Will try what you suggest. It's a 2.4 manual, 93'.

[tonysyorks]

Looking at other posts has got me thinking it could be the matrix as i've had that awfull smell that people have talked about.
I top up the coolant every few weeks. would that be a factor if it was the matrix? Is it always a case for a new one or can it be cured by a good flushing?
Not used this site for along time and forgot how good it was.
cheers!

[deggers]

can hear a constant trickle of water sound coming from behind heater controls

bump.....

because i have this sound.

what was the outcome/verdict?

[TonyN]

Our 2.4 with a knackered head and my petrol 4Runner, that is fine, both make this noise, there is definatly no airlocks in the 4Runner, so I'm putting it down to blockages/crap in the heater matrix that the water trickles over when you start the car.

But who knows, the other cars don't do it.