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johnfrancis

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Had a serious overheat problem a while ago, engine would boil after 5-10 minutes, after reading all the doom and gloom posts on all the forums, concluded that the car was a right off. Started to look at replacements, then thought, this can't be right, these engines are surely not ruined because of overheating?(4.6). So, stuck some irontight stuff in, 690 miles later ( motorway runs and London rush hour traffic) car has run perfect, and has not lost a drop of coolant!
So before you scrap the car because of overheating, try your options, you never know. And when I say overheating problems, after the 4 th or 5th time of boiling over, I just carried ondriving with the pointer in the red and the warning light on from London to rochester!
 
When my 2.5 tdi overheated I had to pull over because of the lack of power.
Did really overheat or was it a faulty reading on the temperature gage?

Mike.
 
I once hired a van that, once loaded up and foot-on-the-floor on the motorway, headed for the red. Managed to control the temperature by switching the heater on full and opening the windows. Trouble was, it was about 30 degrees outside. So, if you saw three very sweaty, topless men in a white box van driving down the M1 a few years ago, you now know why.
 
awillemsen said:
I once hired a van that, once loaded up and foot-on-the-floor on the motorway, headed for the red. Managed to control the temperature by switching the heater on full and opening the windows. Trouble was, it was about 30 degrees outside. So, if you saw three very sweaty, topless men in a white box van driving down the M1 a few years ago, you now know why.
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The garage I used up here had a Shogun they use to tow the trailer for non-runners. The head gasket went late 2009. They finally got round to replacing it mid 2011. The whole time they controlled the temperature by running the heaters on full whack.
 
johnfrancis said:
Had a serious overheat problem a while ago, engine would boil after 5-10 minutes, after reading all the doom and gloom posts on all the forums, concluded that the car was a right off. Started to look at replacements, then thought, this can't be right, these engines are surely not ruined because of overheating?(4.6). So, stuck some irontight stuff in, 690 miles later ( motorway runs and London rush hour traffic) car has run perfect, and has not lost a drop of coolant!
So before you scrap the car because of overheating, try your options, you never know. And when I say overheating problems, after the 4 th or 5th time of boiling over, I just carried ondriving with the pointer in the red and the warning light on from London to rochester!
Click to expand...
I would not advocate that kind of solution to others overheating issues....

To others who are reading this who have an overheating issue - Do not continue to drive with the gauge in the red, there have been instances of engine component failue leading to accidents, engine siezure causing accidents, engine fires.

Not least to talk of knackered and warped heads, slipped liners and all the over bad stuff that can happen to the V8's and Diesels due to an overheated engine.

Whilst this poster above was lucky this time, we all do not have the luck of the Gods smiling on us everyday....

Heed this warning, and take the opportunity for yourself and your vehicle to live another day, as in extreme cases this kind of reckless attitude will kill you or those around you.
 
Saint.V8 said:
I would not advocate that kind of solution to others overheating issues....

To others who are reading this who have an overheating issue - Do not continue to drive with the gauge in the red, there have been instances of engine component failue leading to accidents, engine siezure causing accidents, engine fires.

Not least to talk of knackered and warped heads, slipped liners and all the over bad stuff that can happen to the V8's and Diesels due to an overheated engine.

Whilst this poster above was lucky this time, we all do not have the luck of the Gods smiling on us everyday....

Heed this warning, and take the opportunity for yourself and your vehicle to live another day, as in extreme cases this kind of reckless attitude will kill you or those around you.
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I am in no way advocating that one should ignore overheating problems, what I am saying is that, because your engine has boiled over, all may not be lost!.
These forums are full of bad news, I thought it would make a change for some one to be positive.
Oh and by the way, I have yet to see a overheating engine catch fire!!!!!, and if the engine did seize , why would that endanger life to the extent that someone might die????, if that is what you really believe, then I would suggest that you give up driving, in case you suffered a breakdown and killed someone!
 
Hmmm whenever I've tried magic fluids they've never worked on head gaskets or major problems. Yes they stop minor leaks. But some of them make one hell of a mess in the engine that makes a proper fix a ****ty job. Plus if it's left in the system it can (on some unlucky cars) cause a blockage in a small bore bleed pipe and blow your new head gasket! I'd steer clear unless the vehicle in question is already old, knackered and not worth investing the money in to do it properly!
 
Got to say I'm guilty!

Bottle of Kseal in mine as it was losing coolant but not overheating, suspected the dreaded block but thought what the heck, what have I got to lose? It was either £10 then a new block if it didn't work or a new block anyway!... been going great guns now ever since!
 
K seal is definitely good stuff I've used it for cracked water cooled exhaust manifolds amongst other things. Never tried that one on anything big or expensive! Very wary after past experiences that's all
 
I tried kseal before I stripped the engine and got the block fitted with tophat liners. It never overheated with the cracked block, the rad coped. Just blew coolant out the expansion tank. The k seal appeared to stop coolant from running back into the combustion chamber after being turned off but didn't fix completely, still had pressure in the coolant. Works for some not others depending on conditions.

All was definately not lost, apart from the cracked block the engine after 120 k was is brilliant condition. Well worth the time and effort to rebuild it. It's worth squat to anyone else being an early one but I love it, some would have stripped her for parts and usually do.
 
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I'm certainly under no impression that K seal with fix this thing forever but its surprised me how well it worked to be honest. When funds allow I plan to strip down the engine to see whats what but its kept me mobile for now.
 
Yeah, I did the same. Stopped me having to top it up with coolant as much. I am sure it helped me get down to Silverstone from the wirral without ruining the rest of the engine components. I kept a close eye on the temperature believe me.
 
Even with it fixed, I still have my eyes glued to it just incase. Got a new sender too because the old one bounced about once or twice.

Still check the coolant and will wear the bonnet hinges out eventually doing so.
 
cljcars said:
Even with it fixed, I still have my eyes glued to it just incase. Got a new sender too because the old one bounced about once or twice.

Still check the coolant and will wear the bonnet hinges out eventually doing so.
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:D Every sunday I'm under there checking it... and sometimes mid week just to be sure...

Must be a medical term for it, Rovanoia?!:scratching_chin:
 
Frostycab said:
:D Every sunday I'm under there checking it... and sometimes mid week just to be sure...

Must be a medical term for it, Rovanoia?!:scratching_chin:
Click to expand...

Put your blinkers on and turn the stereo up!!!! Plus fill the dash with cuddly toys. Stops the warning lights coming on, or at least I think it does! But who cares you can't see em;)
 
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