P38 dse overheating

I've got a 1997 p38 dse that started overheating on Sunday when towing caravan there was steam coming from back of engine and water dripping from there , it doesn't overheat when driving under normal circumstances also air conditioning not working properly

Can you see which side of the engine its coming from.

Passenger side

Is the viscous fan kicking in correctly?

Test with a newspaper when hot it should shred it.

J

There are two alloy pipes that go into the head, 1 at the front and one at the back these tend to corrode over time and develop pinholes in them.

Ps. Welcome to the madhouse

Thanks stemac33 I will go and look after are they easy to get to or is it a ball ache of a job

Will try after the newspaper after marjon

They are easy to get to if you take the intake manifold off, but they are interference fit and you can't get them out without destroying them. And they are like rocking horse s**t to get hold of. I had to machine mine up from some steel tube. You may be able to patch it with some steel seal putty for a temp fix but make sure there are no bits that can become loose and float around.

the pipe I got was 24mm o/d 5mm wall thickness. The size of the hole in the head was 19.07mm in mine, so I turned the pipe to 19.20mm x 40mm at one end and the other end was turned to 21mm with a flare on the end to stop the rubber pipe coming off. This is for the rear pipe. Hth

Marjon and stemac33 just tried the newspaper trick the fan didn't stop but I've just noticed a water leak on back of engine

Bigsi234 said:

Marjon and stemac33 just tried the newspaper trick the fan didn't stop but I've just noticed a water leak on back of engine

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Is it showing hot? Was the newspaper rolled up, (sorry forgot to mention)
If you leave it you should hear the sound diff when the fan kicks in, Its an acquired sound.

Sounds like you might be in deeper and need to sort the leaks first.

J

stemac33 said:

There are two alloy pipes that go into the head, 1 at the front and one at the back these tend to corrode over time and develop pinholes in them.

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+1. It is a sod to get at too.

The fan should change tune when it locks, and it starts to roar for want of a better word!

Also at 105c the Aircon fans should kick in to aid cooling, the 2 alloy pipes at the back of the motor would be the first port of call.

Sort the leaks out first and make sure system is filled and bled properly when refilling

Isn't there a small hose, a 90degree on the passenger side rear of the head.?

tomcat59alan said:

Isn't there a small hose, a 90degree on the passenger side rear of the head.?

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Yes I used one to bypass my heat matrix at bulkhead when it leaked . £3.50 off the bay

Rubberknees said:

Yes I used one to bypass my heat matrix at bulkhead when it leaked . £3.50 off the bay

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Worth looking at first before delving into anything expensive. Welcome by the way

tomcat59alan said:

Worth looking at first before delving into anything expensive. Welcome by the way

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Blooming fiddly to get at unless inlet manifold comes off

Rubberknees said:

Blooming fiddly to get at unless inlet manifold comes off

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Not a huge job 12 mm society and combination and a flat screwdriver.