Saxo vts steam from radiator

  1. Established Member Joined: Dec 2007 Middlesbrough Posts: 1147 Saxo vts
    #1
    Bought a vts the other day as a breaker had it running today for the first time fired it up let it run for some time after a while there was steam coming from the lower part of the radiator check the engine temp it was just under halfway.

    I continued to let the car run the guage got just over half way and the fan kicked in cooling it back down to just under half way the steam continued once the fan had stopped.

    After the fan had kicked in and out a few times I turned the car off the whole time the engine running fine and no overheating whatsoever I let the car cool for a while then took off the radiator cap the coolant was to the brim if not overflowing there is no sign of oil in the water and no 'Mayo' under the cap by the looks of it, it's had a radiator recently.

    One last thing I can't say for sure but I'm pretty sure the coolant was not filled up like this before running it!

    Any ideas? Any help much appreciated.
  2. Established Member Joined: May 2012 West Yorkshire Posts: 1806 Civic EP2
    #2
    Split hose
    1 user thanked this post:
  3. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182
    #3
    Sure it's not overflowing out the cap? They do this if not bled right.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  4. Established Member Joined: Dec 2007 Middlesbrough Posts: 1147 Saxo vts
    #4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gandi699 View Post
    Sure it's not overflowing out the cap? They do this if not bled right.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Yes it was coming out the cap quite badly the cap also won't fit properly! Is there a guide on how to bleed the system? Must be worth a try? Also can the symptoms I've described be signs of a head gasket failure? Cheers.
  5. Established Member Joined: Dec 2007 Middlesbrough Posts: 1147 Saxo vts
    #5
    Can I add the car has done 157000 miles mainly motorway so I'm told lol!
  6. Established Member Joined: May 2012 West Yorkshire Posts: 1806 Civic EP2
    #6
    Try a cap then and there's 2 bleed nipples and test the coolant for exhaust gasses.
  7. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #7
    Two causes with the radiator,first it needs bleeding second head gasket going bad can force the water out of the radiator.
  8. Established Member Joined: Dec 2007 Middlesbrough Posts: 1147 Saxo vts
    #8
    I see how do you check for exhaust gas In coolant?
  9. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #9
    The old test is to sniff for petrol fumes by taking the rad cap off,but a hg can fail in different ways.my suggestion to you is to bleed the cooling system fit a new cap and see how it goes.
  10. Established Member Joined: Dec 2007 Middlesbrough Posts: 1147 Saxo vts
    #10
    I've done the sniff test lol it just smells of coolant to me but God no's I'm thinking is it realy worth saving a 2000 reg car with 157000 miles on it? When I allready have a vts.
  11. Established Member Joined: Dec 2007 Middlesbrough Posts: 1147 Saxo vts
    #11
    Thanks for the help boys.
  12. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #12
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by white_vts_boy View Post
    I've done the sniff test lol it just smells of coolant to me but God no's I'm thinking is it realy worth saving a 2000 reg car with 157000 miles on it? When I allready have a vts.
    Or take the engine out teach yourself mechanics by rebuilding it and keep as a spare engine.
  13. Established Member Joined: Dec 2007 Middlesbrough Posts: 1147 Saxo vts
    #13
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Or take the engine out teach yourself mechanics by rebuilding it and keep as a spare engine.
    If I had some where to do this out of the car mate I would definatley give this a go!