P38 overheating

My p38 overheated today, I had a long spell in a traffic jam on the m62, the heater is not producing warm air, I have put a few kettles full of water in it, there is no sign of any leaks, there is no water in the oil or oil In the water,the tempreture gauge goes up and down a bit

Any one any ideas

Im going to start the Ball rolling with ....Airlock.

dougdotcom said:

Im going to start the Ball rolling with ....Airlock.

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I'll see your airlock and raise you a failed water pump.

dogsbody said:

I'll see your airlock and raise you a failed water pump.

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I,ll see your waterpump and raise you a jammed thermostat and a failed viscous fan D

JohnP38 said:

I,ll see your waterpump and raise you a jammed thermostat and a failed viscous fan D

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IM out, a P38 there runs on kettles of water

mine was a vicous fan same things happened. get it check before i did and now have 4 crack in head!!!!!!!!!:doh:

Start it up, let it get hot and then carefully insert a rolled-up newspaper into the cooling fan. If the paper can stop it, it points to a problem with your viscous coupling not operating and turning the fan to provide cooling.

If on the other hand your arm and paper are mashed to crap, you may have to start looking around for other problems.

How long has the heater not been working, where does the temp needle normally point. These things can defy the laws of overheating, no water visible in the oil doesn't mean you can't have a cracked block so investigate thoroughly. Start with the cheap things first, hoses, water pump is favourite, radiator etc

If its only happening in traffic then its more likely to be a problem with airflow so either a very dirty / blocked rad or failed viscous fan. If it happens with normal driving and needle dances a little its likely to be an airlock. If it goes straight up and doesn't come down for ages even after you turn off the car its probably the pump or something else that's blocking coolant circulation (such as failed thermostat or again the rad, blocked on the inside this time).

when youve done the rolled up paper job turn the engine off and feel the rad to see if it warm all over any cold spots change the rad

It would be helpfull to know if it's a petrol with or without LPG or diesel, or have I missed something?

Other than Doug's suggestion of "Airlock" none of the other suggestions would explain why it needed 3 kettle's full of water. My kettle hold 1.5 lts so 4.5.lts is a lot to add for a system that doesnt have a leak. WIth that amout of coolant missing I'm surprised the temp guage even registered an overheat.

Datatek said:

It would be helpfull to know if it's a petrol with or without LPG or diesel, or have I missed something?

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Well according to his profile it's a Disco with a TD5.

Possibly a combination of of a under performing pressure cap and another failure and coolant lost out the overflow:blabla:

hi everyone i have a rangie p38 2.5dse 1996 bmw engine manual its overheating
i have put a new rad,water pump,new complete viscous fan. i have taken the centre out of thermostat
has been flushed out many of times with hose pipe, i've changed the expansion. header tank cap

what it does
it pressurizes back into the header tank, passenger hose goes solid, engine pulls well cant fault the power, goes onto red when driven for 30min but when sitting ticking over it will be fine without cap off


has anyone got any ideas or what is wrong

Cracked head or head gasket. The pressurising is the clue as combustion gasses are getting in to the coolant. It probably bubbles too.

Others with experience of both will be along to give you a more accurate diagnosis.

Nik

NikTheGeek said:

Cracked head or head gasket. The pressurising is the clue as combustion gasses are getting in to the coolant. It probably bubbles too.

Others with experience of both will be along to give you a more accurate diagnosis.

Nik

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Check you new RAD gets hot all over, quite a few duff ones about.