Forum:
Hi all,
Sorry - I'm no mechanic so layman's terms are the order of the day!
Recently bought a 1997 FourTrak TDX 2.8 (160,000 on the clock) and in the last week or so we've had issues with overheating. After a short 4 mile drive at approx 50mph the water in the plastic reservoir attached to the radiator is very low and bubbling, with steam rushing out the overflow pipe at the top.
Last night we got about 3 miles down the road and it overheated. Topped the reservoir water back up to full and went again - 2 miles farther down the road and it was near empty again - in total I put 2 litres of water in there last night.
There's no visible leak and no water underneath the car. It seems fine at low speeds but once you've been 50 or so it starts getting hot, and once it's started getting hot it only cools when stopped, not just by going slower.
The fan has all blades and the belt seems fairly tight. There doesn't seem to be water in the oil - I've checked the dipstick. Left some cardboard under the car over night and there were a couple of very small droplets of oil on it in the morning but not much else. The white plastic reservoir on the radiator does have brown residue around the walls, indicating only water has been used before - not antifreeze? Maybe needs flushing through - have never done this before but will give it a go if you advise as such!
Thanks for your help in advance,
TAKE the thermostat out , and
TAKE the thermostat out , and try it ,
also search on here for viscous fan ,it might not be locking in , silicon oil in side it that stops working to lock fan .
Begin by flushing it through,
Begin by flushing it through, over the years they get topped with any old crap and often lack anti freeze which causes corrosion.
Drop the old water by removing the bottom hose and not by draining out of the radiator drain plug as the hose removal allows larger particles to come out; and remember to have your heater in the hot position or it won't drain properly and air lock when refilled.
Remove a heater pipe going to the interior heater, drop a hosepipe into it and flush it through until it runs clear, then drop the hose into the top of the radiator and do the same, this will remove any loose muck. Note the quality of the water coming out, if it is full of debris then you have a problem.
Fill the system with plain water and run to temperature, if it stops it overheating then its a coolant issue, if it overheats then its another issue.
If the system is seriously corroded this debris builds up in the engine block, it also corrodes the steel impellor on the water pump, so first thing is to flush the cooling system, followed by replacing the water pump, thermostat, and radiator cap.
Thanks guys, flushed through
Thanks guys, flushed through and replaced thermostat, and all was well - although now have another fault! Will make a new thread.
Thanks again