P38 Getting a bit hot & bothered

Hi all

Got an unusual problem on my P38 4.6 at the mo. Every so often the
temperature gauge climbs right to the top of the normal range. It can
happen if I'm doing a steady 40mph or so not really loading the engine, sat
still in traffic, or climbing long hills on the motorway at 75mph or so.
Other trips it'll never move from the normal running temp.

It seems to have started when one of the pipes that takes the water to the
gas vaporiser broke off when we were towing the caravan on the motorway.
The temp gauge went straight into the red and the over-heat light came on.
Needless to say I got it onto the hard shoulder as soon as possible & got
the RAC out.

I've been mooching around under the bonnet and I can't see anything wrong on
the outside. It doesn't seem to be using any water, or if it is it very
very little. It is using a bit of oil, but I keep putting a drop in now and
then. Thing I've noticed is that the alternator is too hot to touch after a
short run - is this normal?

Any ideas where I go with this would be gratefully received!

Many thanks

Marcus

P38A 4.6HSE (on gas)
SII 2.5D 88-inch

loose liner
= new block

too bad

"Marcus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all
>
> Got an unusual problem on my P38 4.6 at the mo. Every so often the
> temperature gauge climbs right to the top of the normal range. It can
> happen if I'm doing a steady 40mph or so not really loading the engine,
sat
> still in traffic, or climbing long hills on the motorway at 75mph or so.
> Other trips it'll never move from the normal running temp.
>
> It seems to have started when one of the pipes that takes the water to the
> gas vaporiser broke off when we were towing the caravan on the motorway.
> The temp gauge went straight into the red and the over-heat light came on.
> Needless to say I got it onto the hard shoulder as soon as possible & got
> the RAC out.
>
> I've been mooching around under the bonnet and I can't see anything wrong
on
> the outside. It doesn't seem to be using any water, or if it is it very
> very little. It is using a bit of oil, but I keep putting a drop in now
and
> then. Thing I've noticed is that the alternator is too hot to touch after
a
> short run - is this normal?
>
> Any ideas where I go with this would be gratefully received!
>
> Many thanks
>
> Marcus
>
> P38A 4.6HSE (on gas)
> SII 2.5D 88-inch
>
>

"Natalie Drest" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> loose liner
> = new block
>
> too bad
>

Not necessarily.... there's a company that advertises a cement/ceramic type
sealant specifically for the inside of cylinder blocks, they sell the stuff
on ebay. I've never used it so can't personally endorse it, but it must be
worth a shot before ripping the engine out???
I used a similar product years ago, on an MGB B-series block that had a
frost crack along one side, and it actually worked! Important thing is to
follow the directions explicitly.
If you do go down this route and try it, let us all know how you get on
please, Marcus.
If I stumble across it, I'll post a link.
Badger.

Thanks for the advise - I was hoping for something other than ripping the
block out - sounds like hard work to me!!

I'll have a look and let you know how I get on

Cheers

Marcus

"Badger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Natalie Drest" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> loose liner
>> = new block
>>
>> too bad
>>
>
> Not necessarily.... there's a company that advertises a cement/ceramic
> type sealant specifically for the inside of cylinder blocks, they sell the
> stuff on ebay. I've never used it so can't personally endorse it, but it
> must be worth a shot before ripping the engine out???
> I used a similar product years ago, on an MGB B-series block that had a
> frost crack along one side, and it actually worked! Important thing is to
> follow the directions explicitly.
> If you do go down this route and try it, let us all know how you get on
> please, Marcus.
> If I stumble across it, I'll post a link.
> Badger.
>