New P38 Owner

I am. I'll get a picture of the thing stuck in the old thermostat soon. I'm hoping the system is not blocked elsewhere.

This is what the old thermostat came out with.

Don't like the look of that. Was it hard or like old sealant?

It was hard. It snapped off when I tried to pull it out. It may have either blocked the thermostat from opening or jammed it open.

Now the new thermostat is in and I've got the engine hot the top of the thermostat is has hot coolant but the bottom of it with the single hose to the bottom of the rad is cold but you can see coolant in there. Also the radiator is cold apart from the very top black plastic part.

Could it be I'm not getting it hot enough to open the thermostat or is the a problem still?

I have seen that before....but can't for the life of me remember where or what it was....but have seen it before.....either that or I am having a massive da ja vu moment!

Have you checked the pump impellor or coolant flow from the pump?

lewisc said:

It was hard. It snapped off when I tried to pull it out. It may have either blocked the thermostat from opening or jammed it open.

Now the new thermostat is in and I've got the engine hot the top of the thermostat is has hot coolant but the bottom of it with the single hose to the bottom of the rad is cold but you can see coolant in there. Also the radiator is cold apart from the very top black plastic part.

Could it be I'm not getting it hot enough to open the thermostat or is the a problem still?

Click to expand...

That means your cooling system is working the stat won't open unless it get hot, so good news there then

Saint.V8 said:

I have seen that before....but can't for the life of me remember where or what it was....but have seen it before.....

Click to expand...

A film with aliens in it.. or one of those survival programs where things grow inside you ?

With the engine at running temp all hoses should have a modicum of warmth in them - usually the higher the hose is situated in the engine bay the warmer it should be.

Sorry you've run into probs with what looks like a nice machine.

No issues getting it back to the Midlands, then?

Fergie46 said:

With the engine at running temp all hoses should have a modicum of warmth in them - usually the higher the hose is situated in the engine bay the warmer it should be.

Sorry you've run into probs with what looks like a nice machine.

No issues getting it back to the Midlands, then?

Click to expand...

That's what I've found, all the hoses at the top of the engine are hot. What isn't hot is the small hose between the bottom of the radiator and the bottom of the thermostat. That stays stone cold along with the radiator. I think I may have an air lock on the system.

Been reading about that today and found a way to "burp" the system to get the air out. Going to do that before heading to the LRO show on Saturday.

Saint.V8 said:

Have you checked the pump impellor or coolant flow from the pump?

Click to expand...

I haven't checked the water pump at all yet, will see if I can test it without removing it.