What are my chances....

that I'll get away with it?

Slight hiccup at the weekend. The bottom hose gave up while I was on the dual carriageway, unfortunately I didn't realise as I'd not quite got round to fixing the temperature gauge which only works when it feels like it. I'm not sure how long it would have had no water, but it must have been a while. It was still running perfectly, and a quick bout of running for 5 seconds the next day all sounded fine, but in reality what's the likelihood that it won't have done any damage?
New hose will be going on at the weekend, so I can't test it until then.
By the way, it's a 200tdi

Based on experience of other cars overheating, the head gasket is the first to go as the temperature climbs. Then the block expands with the heat and starts to grip the pistons and they start binding and you "loose power". Actually you don't loose power, it just gets diverted to destroying the pistons and bores. If that had happened you would have piston slap and you would have heard that.

If it was me I would probably replace the bottom hose, fill it back up with coolant and look carefully for signs of a blown head gasket first off.

I once had a 1.1 Escort van that blew the coolant out (from my GF rear ending another vehicle and rupturing the rad). It made it 7 miles home gently without hitting the red - I assume because the oil cooling effect was sufficient to reduce the heat build up.

I'll get the new hose on at the weekend and keep everything crossed.
Looking on the brightside, if the engine is goosed it'll be a good excuse to fit a 300tdi

Can't understand why anyone would fit a 300tdi in preference to a 200tdi. Just saying.

Just for ease of getting one. Good 200tdi's are getting expensive.

IF you've gotten away with it................... buy a mechanical temp gauge!!!!!

As said, refill and check for pressure in the hoses when warm or bubbles in the header tank. There's a place in Tutbury that sells Durite gauges that will fit your dash

Fill up with coolant then go to a friendly garage. they will gas test your coolant and you will find out easily if the head gasket has been breached

frog hopper said:

Can't understand why anyone would fit a 300tdi in preference to a 200tdi. Just saying.

Click to expand...

How dare thee bring preferance to a 200tdi over the mighty 300tdi.
Be off with though fowl potty mouth!

Forsooth I agree with coffeelandy go forsake thyself and beat thee bodily with a wet fish.

This calls out for another battle!!! 200tdi it is! Be off with your petty 300tdis

Well I've changed the hose, and so far it appears to be ok. No white smoke, and no bubbles in the header tank.
Next job is sorting out the temperamental temperature gauge. I've cleaned up the connection, and tried putting it to the block, so it's looking like it could be gauge related.

I think I'll be putting a durite one in mine as my next job

I'd not realised before, but mine have been changed to a Td5 one by a PO. So all the connectors have been changed, but some don't look very well done, so I'm going to double check them before getting a new gauge.