Try fitting a new thermostat, even though the old one seems OK. (at least,
they're cheap).
Then try disconnecting the radiator bottom hose and pouring water into the top,
and make
sure it all rushes out the bottom like it should.
Doug Braun
'72 Spit
At 08:29 PM 12/31/2004 +0000, you wrote:
>Dear All,
>
>I've been very quiet of late, since all the things that have gone wrong with
>my cars over the past few months have been things that I have been able to
>diagnose and fix myself. This is no longer the case. I would be grateful
>for any suggestions that you guys might be able to come up with - I'm
>stumped...
>
>Symptoms
>I drove Carly (the Spit) up to London yesterday, with the heater on, and just
>as I neared my destination, the heater started blowing cold air, and the
>engine temperature began to rise - fast. Normally, the temperature gauge in
>my car reads about 1/4, but it rapidly went up to 3/4. I parked up, and came
>back to the car a few hours later. I checked the coolant level (a trifle
>low, but I was able to top up using considerably less than a pint of water),
>and consistency (watery - no sign of emulsification). I checked the oil
>(oil-coloured, and correct fill level). I then drove for about two miles at
>40 mph, by which time the temperature gauge was over the 3/4 mark. The top
>of the radiator was too hot to touch, but the main body of the rad, and most
>of the hoses, were cold. I fiddled about sticking screwdriver blades up the
>hoses at the side of the road, trying to see if there was a blockage I could
>clear, and eventually decided to remove the thermostat. Having done this, I
>was able to drive the 70 miles home at 60 mph with the temperature gauge
>reading 1/2.
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