Overheating

[robotype]

wouter86 Wrote:If anyone had this problem before i would like to know how you fixed it.Btw i searched but couldn`t find an answer so i made a new topic.Would have expected someone had this problem before.

Hello Wouter! I had exactly the same problem a few days ago, I was in the highway @ 150 km/h and suddenly the indicator is on the red (actually it past the red...) so I stopped immediately on the side of the road, got some water in the river and here it goes well again but after this episode I noticed it will loose half a litre water every 150-200 km (highway @ 4000-5000 rpm). I didn't notice any leak anyware, the coolant spits out from the radiator reservoir (coffee pot effect)! I am still investigating but I don't have a clue yet...most of the people say it's the head gasket but I didn't notice any white smoke or mayonnaise under the oil cap...so I still hope it is only the thermostat or the waterpump...I really hope so...

[Ivan141]

Check all your coolant hoses as well robotype.. Look for leaks in the radiator, hoses or around the waterpump..it's surely leaking somewhere.
My bro had a similar problem, which was caused by a vapor leak around a hose connection. So also take a look if all the hose clamps are tight and in good shape..

[robotype]

Thank you for the quick reply Ivan, I am sure the water is coming out from the reservoir because I have seen it spitting out a couple of times.
Yesterday I kept the engine on at the minimum for like one hour and the liquid in the reservoir raised 3 or 4 cm, is this normal? Then when it will be full it will come out from the pipe and that is why I found the radiator empty on the highway the other day...I can't find any other leak...

By the way, if the problem is the head gasket, should I get a 0.8 TRD metal one to replace it? Wouldn't it be too low also because they will flatten the head 0.3 mm or so...isn't the original 1.2 better in this case?

My mechanic in Milano is asking me 1000 euro to change the gasket,
he said this work includes many other things to fix and check like cleaning the valve and a bunch of other stuff I didn't get...but I don't know why...I have the impression he is not very honest...

[Ivan141]

1000 euro's, your mechanic is indeed a bit overpriced..
Dont get a metal headgasket unless you flatten the head and engine block perfectly flat, they are known to leak if you dont do this properly.
You might be better off with an oem replacement or similar if you dont have any other modifications anyway.
If the water is sputtering out of the coolant reservoir then it's indeed the headgasket that's gone.

Anyway, here's what I would do if I where you:
-make sure it's the headgasket...drain coolant and look if there's oil in it.
-Get yourself a new headgasket..if you like metal gaskets, paradise racing sells good ones (cometic). I would stay stock on a stock engine.
-Take the head off yourself...it's very easy to do..you need a nr10 socket (12-face type) for the headbolts (if I remember correctly. Get new intake and exhausts manifold gaskets as well..
-Now have your cilinder head milled flat, you can probably skip milling the engineblock if you dont get a metal gasket...just clean it properly
If you like you can have the valveseats and rest of the head refreshed, all this work shouldnt cost more than 200 euro's together..

[Denmark]

If it´s comming out of the overflow bottle ,then it´s the radiator cap that´s faulty.

just change it,and it will be right again,

I had this in the Impreza,when i was on track,when i got into pit,and the car is standing still,then the water was comming out of the overflow bottle.

I changed the cap to a higher bar rating 1,3bar instead of 1,1bar.

On the AE86,i have put on the 1,1bar from the Impreza instead of the 0,8bar that´s on the car,and it´s working fine.

Regards,
Skassa

[Ivan141]

Well, that could also be the case.. But it couldnt hurt to change the coolant and have a good look anyway. Although I would think the radiator cap should be stuck closed for it to throw all the pressure out of the coolant reservoir, so increasing the pressure rating is not directly necessary. Unless off course it is spitting out water or vapor from the cap as well at the moment.

[robokill]

engine won't die under those things just check hoses make same trip again and check how the cooling is going

[robotype]

OK I installed new thermostat and radiator cap and new liquid then yesterday night I drove the car for 5 km on a expressway with some traffic lights but I could rev it enough and the temperature raised a bit...arrived home the reservoir was almost full (raised around 10 cm) and after I switched off the engine it kept spitting vapour from the cap (making bubbles in the reservoir) for like 7 minutes...are there enough clues for a definitive response...? Should I order the gaskets...? Thanks to all for your help!!