overheating problem...

[jezebel]

Sorry for this rather vague post....but I know nothing about how my van works, and wondered if someone could shed some light on what this problem could be....? (and put it in very simple terms lol)

I have a 1986 t25 caravelle. 1.9 petrol. RHD manual. Had masses of trouble since I got it back in April, but the other problems seem to have been resolved....now I'm left with this:

I drove it from Derby to Malvern at the weekend - red hot weather, loads of traffic jams....no problem. Parked up, and some water shot out the back (this has happened before). Before I set out on the way back on Sunday I opened the water tank behind the flappy downy bit at the back, and more water poured out, so I couldn't top it up.

Set off, and within 30 mins or so, the temp gauge started to flicker, then it shot right up all of a sudden, so I pulled over....more water shooting out the back. I let it cool down, tried to top the water up - same thing...couldn't fit any more in.

RAC came out and bled some air out by lifting the main water bottle up and letting the air out of a bleed valve in the back. Set off again......same problem 5 miles on. By this point one of the guys in the club had stopped to help, and he also kept bleeding air out of the radiator at the front. It took about 6 hours to get home coz we kept having to stop and let it cool down.

I've been told that the air had all been bled out.....and now it's been mentioned that maybe I need a new thermostat and/or pressure release valve...???

Can anyone explain what any of this means????

Confused of Derby

xxxx

[kevtherev]

where abouts did the water pour out from?

was it the top up tank?

[toomanytoys]

its poss the "pressure cap" has failed, only use a gen VW one (available from Brickwerks) not a cheapo GSF one...
if that doesnt work after a jolly good bleed, then it sounds most likely there is a problem with a stud breaking, head seal or cracked head I am afraid...

[jezebel]

Yes the water was pouring out from the top up tank ..... as if it was over filled....?

I presume the pressure cap is same as a pressure release valve...? I'm getting the replaced anyway -someone is getting hold of one for me - though I'm not sure where from. Will find out

[kevtherev]

please not from gsf!