Radiator/Gasket gonna blow!!

Slattsy

Afternoon,
I noticed some smoke coming from the front of my car yesterday evening. Not a huge amount and as i wasnt driving far I continued on driving.

When stopped i popped the bonnet and noticed there some steam coming from what seemed like the radiator. It wasnt a smokey or burning smell though.

Let it cool down, coolant level seemed low so gave it some water and it took on a few litres.

Then on my home i noticed the bloody heating was gone and still some steam coming from bonnet !!!

So - whats wrong ??!!

Mar4ix

what show car temperature gouge ? does car overheat ?

steam could be over cracked radiator or cracked pipe.

Big Nasty

I would imagine you have a leak in the rad. The steam is the hot (boiling) water from the rad evaporating (like a kettle). No hot air is also a symptom of low coolant.

How was the temp gauge in the car? If you were losing coolant at that rate I would imagine you were close to roasting your engine.

Do your self a favour and stop driving it and get a mechanic to come out and pressure test the rad.

Slattsy

Lads, the temp gauge was only slightly higher than normal, so it wasnt ridiculously over heating.

Coolant level being low was worrying as it only got a service about 3 weeks ago.

Big Nasty

There's a hole in your rad or a burst or damaged pipe.

Take a cardboard box and open it placing it underneath the rad. Fill the rad to the neck and see if there are any leaks. If it is pissing out do not drive the car. If there's a small leak you could chance it to your local mechanic, same if you see no leak at all - it could be a hole at the top of the rad and the steam evaporates. Don't risk it more than a couple of miles though.

Slattsy

MCMLXXV wrote: »

There's a hole in your rad or a burst or damaged pipe.

Take a cardboard box and open it placing it underneath the rad. Fill the rad to the neck and see if there are any leaks. If it is pissing out do not drive the car. If there's a small leak you could chance it to your local mechanic, same if you see no leak at all - it could be a hole at the top of the rad and the steam evaporates. Don't risk it more than a couple of miles though.

We have the problem.
Just filled it to the brim with water there and could hear the water hitting the drive way !!!!!
Only when it was full though, there was no spillage until that last bit of water went in.

Big Nasty

Slattsy wrote: »

We have the problem.
Just filled it to the brim with water there and could hear the water hitting the drive way !!!!!
Only when it was full though, there was no spillage until that last bit of water went in.

You should be grand to get it to a nearby garage then. I wouldn't be doing any further driving than that until you get it fixed.

Slattsy

MCMLXXV wrote: »

You should be grand to get it to a nearby garage then. I wouldn't be doing any further driving than that until you get it fixed.

Thanks buddy.

Any idea what we're chatting to get it sorted ?

Markcheese

My brothers old starlet blew the radiator (relatively new) mechanic put a new one (second hand) in and it blew that too..mechanic reckoned it was the head gasket on the way out ! hope yours is ok

Slattsy

I don't like the sound of that..