overheating

I bought a series 11a in London and yesterday drove it back home 130 miles to Staffordshire. The engine is a Ford 3.0 V6 - what they call the essex. The temp guage went slowly up to hot and then stayed there - just in the red. I managed to wedge the bonnet so it was slightly open and this helped and eventually I made it home.

I have had an inspection this morning - I thought I would check the thermostat and found that it doesn't have one. I noticed that the coolant in the engine is a lovely clear blue - whereas the coolant in the rad is brown. I am wondering whether this is a sign that the water pump may have packed in. My reasoning is that the water in the engine and the water in the rad do not seem to be mixing. Any thoughts on this theory?

Thanks, Jim

seems a good starting point. check the fan belt and then drain and check each hose, in turn to ensure no blockages. |Could be blocked radiator too.

ad suspect a blockage as the thermo-syphon effect would mix it up after a while

WTF is a thermo-syphon effect? convection current?

G

yuz

This might be a clue as to what has happened - when I had the top of the thermostat housing off, I then opened the top of the rad to look at the colour of the water in there - as I did so, the water from the engine started rising up out of the thermo housing and onto the garage floor. It seems there is some flow of water between the two - does this change the diagnosis?

no

hahahahahhahahaha!

Thinking about it, I see what you mean - there is one way into the engine for the water and one way out - so I guess one could be blocked but we know one isn't. I need to get home and sort this out - wish work didn't get in the way...

Stick hose pipe in the top and try and flush it backwards.

Ps
thermo-syphon effect = hot water rising and drawing in from the bottom creating a syphon effect.

Didn't you ever pinch petrol out of yours dads car with a hose pipe?

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question - do you mean blow air into the top of the rad through a hose?

Nope, water from tap with as much go/pressure as you can get.
and be prepared to get wet.

Ps
No questions are stupid, only teachers
so a teacher once told me

...prepare to get wet... Those words were ringing in my ears as I got a soaking when I got it wrong.

I have got pretty good water pressure at home and managed to get a good clean through flow of water going down the rad - into the bottom of the block and back out the top. I guess there are no blockages. I turned the water pump by hand (fan belt was off waiting for alternator to be fitted) The turning of the pump caused the water to flow out of the thermostat housing. - Does this mean the water pump is OK? Another thought - maybe the LR radiator is not up to the job of cooling a 3.0 V6?

that wudnt cause the water to be a diff colour tho - wud it

True - So then it is the water pump that is faulty?

impossible to say - if turning the water pump causes a flow of water - then it appears to be working. I wud still be concerned as to why you dont seem to be getting a flow through the radiator. I know its one of my pet things, but it might be worth fitting an electric water pump and electric fan. But that isnt the cause of your problem. Either that or a new high volume water pump - that would eliminate the pump at least, but cost yu a far amount.

yu could try here

Did you back flush the head and cylinder jacket as well ?
If not then try disconnecting the heater pipes and connecting your hose pipe too one of theses.

Do these water pumps fit straight in then? from a capri or cortina.

And can you swap out an alternator then to get a higher output? if so is this a ford part aswell, as I think the batteries dying on my series III and would like to be able to use some spots on the front and back (worklight only) but need to upgrade alternator for bigger battery.

Clivees

I don't have any heater. There are a couple of pipes leading off from the water pump - these have been blocked off - I figure they were for the heating. I can't see and blocked pipes elsewhere on the cylinder head so presume that the cylinder head must be plumbed into the block internally somehow?? Is there a forum for Ford essex engines! ...

Sidz

i am afraid I can't help - picked up my LR on Maonday and am learing about it...

Sorry I keep forgetting it’s a transplant.
usually the cold water exits from the rad and enters the bottom of the cylinder block where it rises up (Collecting heat) and in to the cylinder head where it exit out through the thermostat and enters the radiator.
Some where in this cycle there will be a pump.
You want to back flush the whole system to get out any crud and there are some products that you can get to help dissolve stubborn bits (Never used any my self.)