A bit of trouble this morning....

limericklad87

Was driving to work this morning when my engine management light came on. It was then I noticed my engine temp was at the max. It was the car starting to chug and lose power.

I turned it around and limped it back at 20 kilometres cross country to a safe place to stop. Killed the engine for a while. Eventually got it to my mechanics this morning to find he's closed till Tuesday so I left it outside his place.

Went.back down a while ago when it was brighter and lifted the bonnet. I put my hands up and admit the coolant was very low.I have since gone back to the car and topped up the coolant level and ran the engine.
Engine management light is still on and the coolant level hasn't dropped which I thought might have happened if coolant was the issue
Any thoughts apart from my stupidity

Ps the coolant reservoir filled up quite quick when filling
Ps

A any




Engine light

Colash

limericklad87 wrote: »

Was driving to work this morning when my engine management light came on. It was then I noticed my engine temp was at the max. It was the car starting to chug and lose power.

I turned it around and limped it back at 20 kilometres cross country to a safe place to stop. Killed the engine for a while. Eventually got it to my mechanics this morning to find he's closed till Tuesday so I left it outside his place.

Went.back down a while ago when it was brighter and lifted the bonnet. I put my hands up and admit the coolant was very low.I have since gone back to the car and topped up the coolant level and ran the engine.
Engine management light is still on and the coolant level hasn't dropped which I thought might have happened if coolant was the issue
Any thoughts apart from my stupidity

Ps the coolant reservoir filled up quite quick when filling
Ps

A any




Engine light

What car is it

sumo12

What car??

limericklad87

sumo12 wrote: »

What car??

Sorry.... 00 Nissan almera

Colash

limericklad87 wrote: »

Sorry.... 00 Nissan almera

Check for rad leaks . Coolant dosent just disapear ! Check any hoses coming to and from the rad also and expansion tank . Your engine man light might need resetting with a diagnostic computer

limericklad87

Colash wrote: »

Check for rad leaks . Coolant dosent just disapear ! Check any hoses coming to and from the rad also and expansion tank . Your engine man light might need resetting with a diagnostic computer

Gonna leave it for the mechanic now.

What kind of damage am I looking at

brembo26

I can only imagine the fact you only noticed the temp when it was at the max and kept on driving it at a slow speed its going to be an expensive one.

Renegade Mechanic

Nissan petrols of that era are tough. You might get away but be prepared. Even if the head gasked is gone the head itself should be well useable after a skim. Only problem is its a timing chain so dismantling it will be more time consuming.

bear1

limericklad87 wrote: »

Was driving to work this morning when my engine management light came on. It was then I noticed my engine temp was at the max. It was the car starting to chug and lose power.

I turned it around and limped it back at 20 kilometres cross country to a safe place to stop. Killed the engine for a while. Eventually got it to my mechanics this morning to find he's closed till Tuesday so I left it outside his place.

Went.back down a while ago when it was brighter and lifted the bonnet. I put my hands up and admit the coolant was very low.I have since gone back to the car and topped up the coolant level and ran the engine.
Engine management light is still on and the coolant level hasn't dropped which I thought might have happened if coolant was the issue
Any thoughts apart from my stupidity

Ps the coolant reservoir filled up quite quick when filling
Ps

A any




Engine light

I can only imagine that driving further with the temp at max will have cooked your head, especially 20km further.
Could be a few problems, water pump failing, thermostat shut closed or leak in the rad.
Coolant doesn't just disappear.

limericklad87

I think I'll just cut my losses pending an estimate

JohnBoy26

limericklad87 wrote: »

Gonna leave it for the mechanic now.

What kind of damage am I looking at

You've cooked it Imo. These don't take overheating too well, you could be looking at more than a headgasket, the piston rings could be damaged too.

also while it's important to check the coolant tank, checking what's in the radiator is more important.

timmy4u2

limericklad87 wrote: »

I think I'll just cut my losses pending an estimate

Think you made that decision when you continued to drive it a further 20 km