Overheating problem at -13??

[ding-dang-dhu]

Morning,

Up here in Aberdeenshire it fell to -17 about 10 miles away from my house. According to my wife's car the temp in our drive was -13. I managed to get my van started without too much trouble. Checking the anti-freeze last night I thought I was set for the 8 mile drive to work. After spending 25 mins trying to get out of the drive (in the end I used old jackets under the wheels to gain traction ) i managed to get onto the A96.

8 mins or so later I became aware of steam billowing merrily from the rear of the van. I managed to find a place to stop and to my horror the cap in the tank behind the number plate was not on properly. The engine was steaming away nicely. I replaced the cap and carried on. The temp gauge light was now flashing and the needle up to half way. My work was less than a mile away. I stopped at a Morrisons garage accross the road from my work where it now wont start.

The tank under the numberplate is full of anti-freeze and water. Yet it's still over heating.
Have I cooked the engine, there are stories of cars conking out with diesel frozen in the tanks.

Any help would be much appreciated

[syncrosimon]

There is probably a plug of ice in the front to back radiator hoses. Have you got heating?? If it is frozen pipes then the heater should be frozen as well and not be putting out any heat. As long as you have not driven too long on the engine, then she will prob be alright. it will prob thaw out now that you have some heat in it. The ice in the pipes would prevent circulation of the coolant.

simon.

[ding-dang-dhu]

I was hoping for something like that to be the case. Its just the amount of snow on the ground added to the hard frost.
The snow off my boots was still in the cab floor after driving it yesterday. Making the glass around the drivers seat frozen on the inside

Its not causing a problem where its parked at Morrisons, but I'll give it an hour or two before trying again.

Thanks for your help Simon.

[ding-dang-dhu]

Managed to get van back to work.

Have found an S pipe that has slpit just before the clip under the air filter that disappears into the bulkhead from the engine. I have a 1.9 dg watercooled.

Dont suppose anyone knows what it is? Just away to try and get another one.

Thanks

[syncrosimon]

Sounds like the boiling of the engine has split the hose, could have just happened anyway due to age, and no ice blockage.

We used to live in Aberdeen, Headlands Court on south Anderson Drive. great town, had a bay back then, and loved the area.



Aberdeen harbour, Union Street and Countesswells Woods.

[T'Onion]

get a picture up of the pipe

[Ian Hulley]

Yep, No.18 on the diagram VW # 251121130B .... it's the 'S' shaped hose from cylinder head 1 and 2 that goes to the bulkhead connector.



I got one from 80-90 breaker 'nw_vw' as this was unavailable or obsolete I forget which but I'd gamble on obsolete

Ian.

[ding-dang-dhu]

Nice van Simon, we have more snow than that tho

Thanks for taking the time to post the the pic Ian. I have managed to fix the pipe. As it split very near to the end of the pipe I was able to get a clip on the end and its holding well. As you say the part is 'unavailable' at my local parts centre.

The temp gauge is still showing its overheating, but the tank has plenty of water/antifreeze in it. Must be more damage elsewhere. The engine starts and sounds noisy, with lots of white smoke from the exhaust. Not sure if its because its still -8 or what.

Should I drive it the 8 miles home, or leave it till the snow goes.

[Ian Hulley]

There's probably air in the coolant system and until you get that sorted you'll not know what else's occured. I'd certainly not recommend driving it , try bleeding it.


Ian.

[ding-dang-dhu]

There's probably air in the coolant system and until you get that sorted you'll not know what else's occured. I'd certainly not recommend driving it , try bleeding it.


Ian.

Thanks Ian, good call.

Going to have to leave it at work, only if I can un-freeze the locks. They are all forzen solid.

As per usual its one thing after another.

[BigTam]

Nae luck big fella, hope there is no damage, you lot certainly did get the snow bad at the weekend, I was up in Bucksburn at my brothers, took me over 2 hours to get from the Bridge of Dee to his on Friday night

[ding-dang-dhu]

Nae luck big fella, hope there is no damage, you lot certainly did get the snow bad at the weekend, I was up in Bucksburn at my brothers, took me over 2 hours to get from the Bridge of Dee to his on Friday night

Hey Tom,

Laura was stuck in the same traffic jam. She took North Anderson Drive from Westhill to Blackburn due to the snow blocking the Kingswells road. More snow for tomorrow and Wednesday forecast

Van looks and sounds bad. White smokey stuff from the exhaust, and a sickening noisy engine. Fingers crossed its all ok. Its been a long day. Done nothing at work today but work on the van. Off to the Thainstone Mart to pick up a runaround while the van gets better.

Pete

[asahartz]

White smoke from the exhaust is a typical symptom of blown head gaskets/warped/cracked heads. My wife's Previa got so bad it left a total smokescreen behind it for the first two miles each morning; Previas are known for head failure and we ended up swapping the engine (after trying a new gasket and head skim).

[ding-dang-dhu]

Off to the Thainstone Mart to pick up a runaround while the van gets better.

Pete

I managed to get said runaround. When I drove into work my work mates smiled and just shook their heads in that " for *uck sake " kinda a way.

Is a Ssangyoung Musso really that bad? 500 quid for an R reg with 51000 on the clock is a good deal I reckon. It runs well and everything works, so far.

Back to the van, there is no gunge in the oil so fingers crossed its not head gasket. We have a big thaw on just now so hope to get some work done on it tomorrow.

Will keep you all posted

[Nicola&Tony]

Fingers crossed for you Pete, hope it's nothing major.

Tony