steam from expantion tank

hi guys, new to this site. Got me a v8 4.0l rangy on a 2000 plate. not all the time but sometimes she smells hot and i get a bit of steam coming out of the expantion pipe. The pipes dont seam to hard and it looks like a new rad. Drives ok and the temp gage only ever goes to 1/4. any advice would be helpfull ty yosser xx

check rad is hot all over core surface ,all pipes are hot including heater

yes all ok, it only happens now and then

If temp only going to 1/4 has it had its thermostat removed? If its had new rad fitted (i take it by previous owner) it maybe a hint to past problems.

I had a car with a similar problem and checked the thermostat, it turned out to be a separate temperature sensor just for the expansion tank but I would definitely check thermostat and associated sensors first - and I don`t think I`d be wanting to use it much till I found the answer.

ok ty guys will have to have a look

well its had a new rad and water pump but it runs exellent exept for this steam which only happens now and again, like 4 days now and nothing

hi, you could try fiting a new expansion tank cap as these items give problems on your vehicle, and can be costly!

try expansion cap first, only cheap to test, iv had the same symptions with my V8, just had new rad, steam and some water flowing out of the expansion tank,

the advice iv had from the guys on here is that it could be a slipped liner. although mines started to make this lovely loud noise which seems to be the inlet manifold, which iv been told can give these symptions sometimes.. so my fingers are crossed its hopefully HGF or innlet gaskets etc.

I hope you dont have anything to serious, as this is costing big bucks !

Hi Disco-lew, your ssimptoms that you are seeing do indicate either a blown head gasket to the water ways, of which there are only four points that this can hapen or a cracked liner/Block, If you have your heads presure tesed and they are ok and there is no sign that the head gaskets have gone i would have the cylinder block presure tested as cracked cylinder heads are very seldome seen, fiting top hat liners would cost £650 + postage + vat.