Overheating mystery

Czechboy

Tarmac terrorist
Apr 14, 2005
1,607
0
Hampshire
Hiya Everyone,

Here's one for you. My 1.4 is overheating but I'm not quite sure why. The headgasket isn't gone because there is no oil in water and vice verse. Also the expansion tank does not lose any water. The car made it to Manchester and back (500 miles) only overheating on the motorway when driving at 80 leptons for an hour with no heaters running. Doesn't really overheat in traffic. Fan still works. BUT when I changed the oil and filters I also decided to put in some Rad-weld into the expansion tank to stop the curry smell I get from a slightly leaking heater matrix. And now the car overheats even when going 70mph for 5 mins. When I stick the heaters on full blast the temperature drops back to operating temperature but I don't want to be driving with the heaters going constantly.

Thermostat??
Clogged up radiator??
any way of checking what it might be?

p.s the water pump was changed only 2 years ago.

Many thanks in advance :)

Mig
 

KERMITCUPRA

Active Member
Nov 22, 2006
105
0
READING
I think if you read in the handbook its standard on old 1.4 `s :lol: its a 1.4 thing............:lol: See the 16v goes so fast it keeps it cool........:funk:
 

Czechboy

Tarmac terrorist
Apr 14, 2005
1,607
0
Hampshire
I knew you'd pop up on here :lol: Your coilovers have now done probably more miles in the boot of my car then they have done on the valver.

I will try the top rad hose thing. as for the thermostat I will have to try that out as well.

Any other ideas??

Thanks
 

OllieL

2.0 16v Cupra Sport GTi
Dec 10, 2006
1,868
0
Birmingham
Does sound like the stat - same problem I had on my 1L polo. Want to get it sorted quick though cos I think that was what started the ball rolling on my head gasket giving up :(
 

Czechboy

Tarmac terrorist
Apr 14, 2005
1,607
0
Hampshire
Nah, I secretly love the pimped out/chav'd up Polo, I seriously need to take it for a photoshoot but I have absolutely no spare time..........or its raining outside :doh:

Mig
 

Czechboy

Tarmac terrorist
Apr 14, 2005
1,607
0
Hampshire
When the engine is hot squeeze one of the top rad hoses. You will tell if there is water flowing through it. Common sense ;)

Well I just drove back home (50 miles) and I tried squeezing the top rad hose. And its REALLY hard to squeeze and very damn hot. So either there is hot water flowing through it or its full of pressurized air. But I'm pretty sure it was full of liquid.
 

m0rk

sarcasm comes free
Staff member
May 19, 2001
27,787
33
Clanfield, UK
whip out the thermostat. it will fail soon enough anyway. when mine failled I just took it clean out... takes the car a little longer to warm up - but worthwhile!

while you're there make sure the coolant is flushed round and eliminate any bubbles.
 

Czechboy

Tarmac terrorist
Apr 14, 2005
1,607
0
Hampshire
So can I just completely remove it then?? No other adverse effects apart from the car taking longer to warm up??

Ta
 

KERMITCUPRA

Active Member
Nov 22, 2006
105
0
READING
Mig... i know someone with a Beetle for sale. :redface: sorry.....
Jokes aside i bet your rad`s partley blocked. Wip off the rad hoses and give the whole system a good flush out with the garden hose. Bet youve got a load of cr**p in there.
 

Czechboy

Tarmac terrorist
Apr 14, 2005
1,607
0
Hampshire
Wip off the rad hoses and give the whole system a good flush out with the garden hose. Bet you've got a load of cr**p in there.

Will have to do that. I've got a pressure washer I could use to flush the inside, or do you recon a pressure washer is too harsh for the radiator?

Plan of action:

Buy some coolant
Drain old coolant
Chuck thermostat in the bin
Flush the system using a pressure washer
Fill system back up
Enjoy a motorway cruise without heaters at full blast
 

m0rk

sarcasm comes free
Staff member
May 19, 2001
27,787
33
Clanfield, UK
flush it with a hose, no need to pressurise it... it'll likely just crumble!

Run the water round the block too - to flush that out too
 

Pedro

Guest
Chezchboy, if removing the thermostat does solve the problem then you may as well replace it with a new one. As M0rk says it won't harm your car running without, but in the middle of winter you will find it taking a good while to heat the heater matrix up, and with iced windows etc it's a pain in the arse!
 

Czechboy

Tarmac terrorist
Apr 14, 2005
1,607
0
Hampshire
Well I've just phoned up GSF and apparently they are only like £6 for a new one so will buy one, then buy some coolant (red one I think) and I can try and flush the system and replace the stat.

For the time being if there are any other simple things I could do that might be the cause then please fell free to tell me [B)]

Cheers

:thumbup: