Off the scale!

[Mark7081]

driving back from Sheffield on the M1 between Jnc 28 and 27 southbound the temperature needle went off the scale. I was admittedly going up hill at 80 (which I have done loads of times) but surely with a new stat and coolant with a higher boiling point this should never happen?

I had a new thermostat and the system filled with Toyota red coolant after having had the system chemically flushed by a local garage only yesterday!

Prior to this for about a month I had been running on just tap water with a new radiator cap, with no issues, after having tried to flush the system myself (was 90% success except I couldn't do the big hose at the bottom of the radiator).

Any ideas?

I am due to travel on holiday on Saturday and this is not what I wanted to see.

By the way, after leaving the motorway (luckily jnc 27 is my exit anyway), I drove carefully and the needle started to drop, being at normal about 5 minutes after.

[markjd]

Maybe not bled properly. Have you got a rear heater takes a bit to bleed

[BUSHWHACKER]

My 2.4's temp gauge needle used to creep up past the halfway mark the couple of times I exceeded 70mph.
If the needle has been into the red zone, then start saving for a new cylinderhead.

p.s. If you need to travel at 80mph often, as you've stated in post#1, then you've bought the wrong type of vehicle.

[Yorkshire Devil]

Overheating

My 2.4's temp gauge needle used to creep up past the halfway mark the couple of times I exceeded 70mph.
If the needle has been into the red zone, then start saving for a new cylinderhead.

p.s. If you need to travel at 80mph often, as you've stated in post#1, then you've bought the wrong type of vehicle.

These are not speed demons and 80mph for a 2.4 is driving at its limit, if your a speed demon you need the 3.0 1KZ-T engine.

[shokenore]

These are not speed demons and 80mph for a 2.4 is driving at its limit, if your a speed demon you need the 3.0 1KZ-T engine.

I beg to differ but if you are a real speed demon then the engine you really need is the 1LR-GUE.

[Mark7081]

Nah Vince, & Yorkshire Devil, sorry, meant I have often done 80 on this section of the M1 as it is 4 lanes and quite steep so I do that to mantain momentum. That sounds daft but I know what I am trying to explain anyway, I would have bought anything other than a 20 year old 2 ton Surf (especially a 2.4) if I was a speed freak!

Seriously though Vince, this is the only time the needle has gone red and (so far) hasnt since. There is no mayo on the rad cap and the coolant is still red (goes yellow with head gasket probs doesnt it?) but is this a potential warning?

Mark, mine does have a rear heater but that has never worked and from what I read on these pages it takes more than a standard flush to un block them so I don't think it will be that but I shall be burping it again tomorrow.

[shokenore]

Like what was mentioned above if the system has not been bled correctly then that may account for the sudden rise in temperature.

You need to keep an eye on the coolant level to start with.
Top up the expansion tank if it is low or empty.

A cracked head will not show as mayo in the rad cap.

A sweet smelling exhaust will be noticeable or to be 100% sure get the coolant checked for exhaust gases.

[Mark7081]

Cheera Shokenore, what does the Mayo cap equate to then? Could have sworn it waa evidence of head gasket/cracked head.

I know the mechanic took it for a spin for about 10 minutes andit was a further 20 minutes before I got it back.

Gonna check it tomorrow and see if it needs topping and burping.

[BUSHWHACKER]

The heads crack between the valves or the valves and the water jacket, so only a 'sniffer' test will tell if the exhaust gasses are present in the coolant.

Head gaskets usually blow/leak between cylinders allowing oil into the coolant which gives the 'mayo' type deposits.

[Mark7081]

Thank you Vince.

I either mis read or mis understood threads on theese pages but your description makes perfect sense. I understand now.

Still non the wiser to overheating though!

[Koi]

I suspect its air in the system, they are a bugger to bleed and have known garages from previous posts on here to fill the system via the expansion bottle, DOH!.

[tashtego]

driving back from Sheffield on the M1 between Jnc 28 and 27 southbound the temperature needle went off the scale. I was admittedly going up hill at 80 (which I have done loads of times) but surely with a new stat and coolant with a higher boiling point this should never happen?

I had a new thermostat and the system filled with Toyota red coolant after having had the system chemically flushed by a local garage only yesterday!

Prior to this for about a month I had been running on just tap water with a new radiator cap, with no issues, after having tried to flush the system myself (was 90% success except I couldn't do the big hose at the bottom of the radiator).

Any ideas?

I am due to travel on holiday on Saturday and this is not what I wanted to see.

By the way, after leaving the motorway (luckily jnc 27 is my exit anyway), I drove carefully and the needle started to drop, being at normal about 5 minutes after.

For what I read on here and for what I see around where I live if you put the 2L-TE needle in the red usually the head has cracked. I guess its a bit of a chicken an egg situation, does it overheat coz the head's cracked, or is it the overheating that does the head in?
The talk of airlocks etc is usually just wishful thinking...
In any case, if you like surfs your best options is to move on to a kz-te or petrol.

Even with a new head, the 2.4 is a sluggish motor, and I know of a fair few that go again.

Here there are still quite a few early Gen 2 , 3L engine (2.8 litre) surfs and in my opinion they are great. No turbo, but they tow big boats no problem, simple enough to fix,reliable. I'm actually after one myself. There is one not far from my house, It has done over 300 thousand Km and never been"opened", just servicing and cambelts....Are they hard to find in UK?
Cheers and good luck!

[Mark7081]

Fair comment. Fingers are naturally crossed it isn't the head but obviously I had read enough on these pages prior to buying to be very aware of the chances it may/will happen.

Out of interest, if it is the head would I expect to see red lining every time I use it ie gets to operating temperature and then straught to red?

[Koi]

Fair comment. Fingers are naturally crossed it isn't the head but obviously I had read enough on these pages prior to buying to be very aware of the chances it may/will happen.

Out of interest, if it is the head would I expect to see red lining every time I use it ie gets to operating temperature and then straught to red?

no you wouldn't, when mine went the only symptoms I got were used more fuel and felt down on power, temp gauge never moved no matter what speed I was doing. Strangely enough it never blew any coolant out or overflowed the expansion tank.

[Mark7081]

Cheers Koi, although I'm not sure that makes it better or worse?! Lol

Off to have a little look shortly now I've finished work so might have a better idea. Driving to the coast in the morning so could really do with it being something stupid (packing all the stuff in the missuses MX5 won't really work too well).