Overheating 1.9tdi

[seatkid]

thinks.....remap....warped head.....how on earth do you test a head gasket?........

[jkspoff]

Head tested with gas test, coloured chemical etc, not sure how it works.

[jkspoff]

Well, I got the caravan brakes checked and although they were all to pot, it hasn't made any difference, so the Galaxy is no longer the towing car, as it just won't tow happily up a long motorway hill. Caravan is now swapped to my wifes 1.9DCI Renault instead, which is actually a bit more powerful anyway. So I'll be keeping the Gal, as I believe it will still give many many more years of motoring without towing a large caravan. It would drive round the world without overheating without towing. :blink:

[jkspoff]

OK, the Gal is definately loosing coolant somewhere, only when engine is under load, but no obvious signs anywhere around the radiatior or other obvious areas, anyone any ideas before I book it into dealer next week and pay them by the hour to 'investigate' ? Edited August 12, 2007 by jkspoff

[seatkid]

.....warped head.....

[mumof4]

.....warped head.....

 

Have you??...Blimey........were you stretched as a baby??? :)

[jkspoff]

I've heard this mentioned a few times, but how do I check it, and why would that cause coolant leaking, as there doesn't appear to be any water in the oil ?? Edited August 12, 2007 by jkspoff

[seatkid]

Fraid it is not really possible to check. From evidence I've read, chemical indicators don't work a lot of the time, in any case yours is a diesel and I think chemical tests may only work with petrol engines (exhaust by-products). Not to mention the supersize capacity of the Gal's cooling system.

 

The problem is likely to get worse, at the moment it only happens under load. This suggests to me it could also be a head bolt snapped or......cracks in the head. I read somewhere else about remaps etc causing cracks. The reason for no obvious water in the oil is the oil is at temp (100deg +) and the water just boils off or the crack is leading into an inlet or exhaust port.

 

You can either wait for the problem to get worse or be pro active.

 

That is, after you checked all other possible causes/leaking - thermostat - radiator - water pump...remember that the leak will only occur when the engine is hot so check thermostat housing, water pump etc for signs of evaporated water (white chalky stains)

[jkspoff]

OK, lets say that it is is the warped head, but how will I found out without spending hundreds on getting the head removed ? Is there any other way of telling ? I will get it booked into my local garage for more investigatory work.

[fedupwithjunk]

I have had similar problems, After a crash repair the car came back with several problems one of which was the COOLANT warning.

The expansion tank was empty and we thought it was just the dick at he garage not filling it.

 

The following week the same warning but this time the tank bubbled back up to the full mark when the cap was unscrewed.

 

This week it did it again and the temp was getting very high too.

 

I found a bulge in the pipe leading off the top of the exansion tank and cut it open to find a small tube inside with a very small hole which I think must limit the flow. Any way it was blocked solid with dirt (probably disturbed in the crash repair)

 

new pipe and now seems to run perfectly

 

 

HTH

[insider]

jkspoff - do you think this could have been the cause of your problems?

[jkspoff]

If I manage to get the Galaxy back I will take a look at this area immediately. Maybe after all that I've done it could turn out to be something as simple as that, as there is absolutely no sign whatsoever of the head gasket being the issue.

[mumof4]

Hve you spoken to the garage yet Jk?

[jkspoff]

Yes, they are refusing to reject the Laguna, as they are repairing it. I have stated trading standards facts, but they are not listening. I am awaiting a call from the general manager. I am fuming !

[fedupwithjunk]

jkspoff - do you think this could have been the cause of your problems?

 

Who knows but the symptoms sound similar and it looks like you have tried all the obvious stuff. I would be suprised if this was not a common problem because the small hole I mentioned is only about the width of a pin and could be blocked very easily. Its and easy job to take the pipe off and try blowing through it, maybe an air hose could clear it without cutting the pipe open? You'd have to blow from the expansion tank end though, otherwise you'd be trying to force the dirt though the tiny hole and make things worse.

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Could be that the radiator is partly blocked - allows enough circulation to cope with "Normal" situations but when you are towing, there is not quite enough capacity left to give sufficient cooling