rad empty but coolant bottle full?

[amethyst]

Hi peeps,

as the title says, just been out for a run with the 3.0 surf about 16- 20 mile been having a few probs starting it of late but started ok this afternoon, no white smoke, but on arrival back the radiator looks empty from the top but the coolant bottle was over flowing, have checked the oil and all ok dont seem to be any water in it... I am booked in next week at Stevo's and need a bit of advice on this before i go just in case it dont make the journey...

Any ideas?

[BUSHWHACKER]

Hot coolant 'expands' into the overflow tank and gets sucked back into the rad as the engine cools. Your radiator probably needed topping up before your journey thats all.
When the engine is stone cold i.e. first thing in the morning, the rad should be full and the overflow tank 1/3 to 1/2 full.

[amethyst]

Thanks for the quick reply - its been stood for 3 hours now with bonnet up and still full in coolant bottle

I did notice when i pulled up that it was dripping out of the coolant bottle

[Albannach]

The engine won't cool down properly in 3 hours.

[amethyst]

okey dokey, will check it in the morning - i did hear an air leak? from the rad cap area could be sucking air in i suppose...

[Albannach]

okey dokey, will check it in the morning - i did hear an air leak? from the rad cap area could be sucking air in i suppose...

Could be, won't do any harm to replace the cap and thermostat.

[BUSHWHACKER]

There's your problem then.
If the rad cap isn't sealing properly, air will be sucked into the rad as the engine cools instead of the coolant from the expansion tank. The next time the engine gets hot, more coolant will expand into the tank then onto the road and keep doing so until the rad/cooling system is empty. Then it's time for a new head!

[amethyst]

bugga... will it just keep filling the coolant bottle then instead of going round the engine?

i gotta get it to Stevo's on Wed its about 38 miles, hope the old gal will make it...

where is the best place for a rad cap? is it roughtrax?

[Jonny77]

You can get a rad cap at any motor factors for a fiver. Its the same 45mm 0.9 bar cap as fitted to loads of jap cars.

[Albannach]

where is the best place for a rad cap? is it roughtrax?

No, go to a main dealer and get the right thing.

[amethyst]

cheers guys have ordered one from roughtrax at least i know its the right one...

[lmantuano]

Problem fixed?

G'day Amethist,

just wondering whether you were able to fix your problem & how... I'm about to tackle similar issue on my Hiace/1KZTE

thanx

lm

[amethyst]

yeah sadly it turned out to be the head... so new head went on.. and now not got the surf...