More Cooling Woes

[andy]

Maybe it's different for the 2.4 , but I only get the 3.0ltr models , and they all have the 82c stats .

[Keith]

I hate to be the one to suggest the likely reason for your problems but I am pretty certain it is head or gasket. I had a new head over a year ago and for almost a year was concerned about temp. under the bonnet. Fitted a transmission cooler but eventually noticed that I was losing water via the overflow bottle. It is very difficult to check the water level properly on mine due to discolouration so I kept putting a drop in. Only when towing for about 100 miles did sufficient water leave the system for it to overheat and register on the temp. guage.

My advice would be to check that the water level is up to the mark and then give it a good thrashing and check for any sign of bubbling in the overflow tank. If there is then gasses are getting from the engine into the cooling system - head or gasket.

Hope that I am wrong but having had my gasket replaced it is much, much cooler under the bonnet.

Keith

[Mark]

Thanks Keith

I checked the head by doing a chemical analysis of coolant - looks for hydrocarbons etc and all was OK

I am pretty sure its just a bunged up radiator........bottom hose temp seems as hot as the top hose, so i am guessing many of the middle bits are bunged up..

Going to take it out and get re-cond asap

Cheers

mark

[gemini]

Thanks Keith

I checked the head by doing a chemical analysis of coolant - looks for hydrocarbons etc and all was OK

I am pretty sure its just a bunged up radiator........bottom hose temp seems as hot as the top hose, so i am guessing many of the middle bits are bunged up..

Going to take it out and get re-cond asap

Cheers

mark

mark, its the rad you have to check to see if it feels warm all over, if there's no cold spots its ok, dont go wasting money on a rad if its alright

[Mark]

Thanks Ian

I have checked the RAD for cold spots and I think its ok

My Brother in law is in the trade, so he is goung to get a new matrix sometime this winter anyway.

I am resigned to the fact that this motor gets hot !!

Cheers

Mark

[gemini]

Thanks Ian

I have checked the RAD for cold spots and I think its ok

My Brother in law is in the trade, so he is goung to get a new matrix sometime this winter anyway.

I am resigned to the fact that this motor gets hot !!

Cheers

Mark

you might actually be worrying about nothing because they do seem hot uder the bonnet but if the temp is ok and its not losing water or over pressurising it should be alright

[icsys]

My conclusion ( but not proven ) is that the thermostat temp is to high before it opens, and more importantly the thermostat body suppresses the flow of coolant around the system, which is why the top of the Rad and top hose/thermostat housing is so hot. If i can source a lower temp stat i will post the info

I sourced a stat at my local car shop. There are 2 made by Quinton Hazell Automotive Ltd:
QTH321 88c and QTH322 82c Both are identical except for the temp.
£9.95 each. I have to decide now which one to fit. The one that's in is 88c

[crusty]

My conclusion ( but not proven ) is that the thermostat temp is to high before it opens, and more importantly the thermostat body suppresses the flow of coolant around the system, which is why the top of the Rad and top hose/thermostat housing is so hot.

The top of the rad & the top hose will always be hot (after the stat opens). The water going through it is at least 82 degrees c. You hand will never be able to tell the difference between 82 & 102 degrees c, hot is hot. Yes the stat reduces flow, but inversly, having no stat can increase the flow too much and the coolant doesn't have time to cool in the rad. I'm driving my Surf in 40 degree c temps frequently (living in OZ) and the gauge always sits in the middle (I'm sure the gauge only has two positions)

The Japs have a bad habit of filling the cooling systems with "stop leak" type products before export to reduce the chance of noticing a damaged head(if it's damaged or not). This will fill your radiator up with junk that WILL reduce it's effeciency, it will also foul your stat and all coolant/heater hoses & temp senders. I'd reccommend any Surf owner, that hasn't had a PROFESSIONAL radiator flush, to do so asap.
Bonnet vents (I'm planning some nice Cosworth type vents) will reduce engine bay temp, but more importantly , it will increase flow through the radiator. As I mentioned in a previous thread, big spotlights also reduce air flow to the radiator. Your gauge may still read the same (ie. preset position #2~halfway), but cooling efficiency is still reduced. Personally I don't think our radiators are big enough to be able to remove 100sq" of area (the combined size of my "removed" spotties)without some adverse effect.

[wibblywobbly]

Bonnet Vent

After reading all of the tales of overheating prior to buying my Surf, I decided to hunt for one that had the required mod in Japan. I got one too!! Pic attached if you can see it.

It is on its way and will be here in 4 weeks, I can't wait.

It's also got a spare set of alloys, fully loaded, tow hitch rear spoiler....I won't tell you how much I got it for. You would weep.

[icsys]

Howdy wibblywobbly (what a mouthful!) Rob.

A nice close up of that bonnet would be cool when you collect her.

Nice one!

(............How much did you say??????????????????????????? ?)

[wibblywobbly]

The best pics are now shown above

While I am on, and I know that it is off-topic, but who should I go to for insurance? I have seen Tesco mentioned frequently but the Surf isn't mentioned in their internet quote list. Do I have to ring them to get a quote?

[icsys]

Have a read here for some suggestions. Prices vary widely.
http://www.yotasurf.co.uk/Forums/sho...8&page=1&pp=10
Most of the major companies requre you to ring as grey imports are not the norm to them. Many won't touch them either. A specialist broker is probably best.

[waveydavey]

Recently had my rad re cored at Serck Marston in Portsmouth for the princely sum of £160, two weeks later on a return trip from Stanstead airport doing 130kph...90 ish mph no problem untill i pulled up outside my house .....steam billowing from my bonnet upon lifting bonnet my antifreeze was exiting my cooling system at a great rate of knots from my expansion bottle overflow.
Next day, decided to begin stripdown to change head gasket, not easy with big hands but managed, my question is why are there so many what appear to be waterways in the gasket that are not cut out, I have rust particles on either side of the gasket but no cut out?
Couyld this be THE problem?

Your thoughts gentlemen and ladies please.......

[TonyN]

Can't see it, if the gasket was faulty and blocking waterways, the motor would have gone pop long before. Probably just a disign feature, but check it against a new gasket anyway.

[crusty]

I don't know enough about our engine to comment. But my mechanic did mention he needed to test fit the HG because there were a couple of different ones(cut outs, oil galleries ect.)listed for the 2.4??????
This may sound stupid, but is it possible to fit our HG backwards? With my original 2F from my Landcruiser (4.2L petrol), it was possible to fit the HG upside down & backwards, & everything lined up apart from an oil port .A costly mistake that a friend made to his, but didn't notice till 2 months later I asked him why his engine was so rattley, we pulled the valve cover to find no oil & rust had set in. .