V6 Overheating

[vodkas]

My galaxy has just started to overheat. At low speeds, about 50 or lower it can just about hold its own with the dial almost in the red and 120 degrees oil. If i go faster it gets much worse very quickerly.

The fans are coming on but it does not cool down like it used to. I changed the stat on Monday being the cheapest and easiest to do but had no effect. Tonight I managed to change the bitch of a water pump for a brand new one and had no effect.

There is no loss of water and the system has been pressure tested. A dye test was also done to check for exaust gasses but that was ok. The water looked fine, bright and shiny with no signs of debri. The correct antifreeze/coolant has been checked every year.

The only thing I can think of that is left is the radiator. When the cooling fans kick in, the air that is displaced goes cold very quickerly as if there is little flow through the rad. The temperature is reading very high but the bottom hose can be quite cool. It takes a while before the fans kick in and i noticed that the temperature sensor for the fans is on cool side of the radiator. It looks to me like a partial blockage, but have no idea how it has happened, it must be a circulation problem. If I put the heaters on full the engine temp does come down slightly.

 

Is this a normal fault for radiators to block? is there a way to flush/test them or anything on the market to add that may clean it up?

 

Supposed to be going on holiday next Friday, a good 300 miles in each direction, desperate to get it fixed and keep the family happy.

[Topbloke]

i know that it is easy to say after you have changed everything, but get the rad flow tested , talking to a rad man the other day he said that its not uncommon for the ali rads to loose there cooling ability due to corosion of the fins on the out side ,

[vodkas]

From the look if it, the rad looks perfect from the outside. Nice and clean with no signs of corrosion or oxidisation. Just started happening over the last 2-3 weeks.

[Guest marcusheawood]

Is it definitely overheating or could the guage be lying to you?

 

I would have thought that if it were really overheating the pressure relief valve in the expansion tank cap would blow off steam somewhat!

 

However you say you're not losing any coolant, so surely your sender must be faulty.

[delboyt]

i had a similar thing happen to an escort i had

all i done was to change the connector that's on the engine case that tells the

temp guage that it's hot & it kept overheating.

find the lead & connector & try that

i cut the old connector off & put a spade one on & it was fine then

 

not sure if it will help but it's a cheap option to try first before you call

into a garage

[Topbloke]

if you know some one with vag com then you could see what the temp is when driveing and compare with dash gauge but a flow test is much cheaper than just chucking a new rad at it

[vodkas]

The reason that i think it is getting hot and it is not just the temperature sender is the oil temperature readout went up to 150degrees c, very dangerous as you should stop if it reaches 140. With both reading very high it is unlickely that the 2 of them are at fault.

 

I am sending the rad away on Monday for a flow test and re-core if it is needed

[Guest animal]

hi

i also have the same problem with my galaxy the temp only gets to 103 no leaks no head gasket symptons i am at a loss and dont now what to do next. at 103 is that a danger temperature for the engine to be at, thankful for any replys

 

mark

[seatkid]

Check your rad first, but if the oil temp is up to 150 deg. it looks very sick - like something terminal.....

 

I take it you have got enough oil and its been changed in the last 10,000 miles?