hello, hope you can answer a query.The car is a fiat punto but should not be to important. Had the car for a month. No over heating issues or running hot. Was on the way to York over the tops on the M62. Noticed temp guage was over the 3/4 marker. But no into the red. I pulled onto the hard shoulder. popped the bonnet and noticed the radiator fan was not running. Car started to boil over. so jumped back in and switched off the engine. This was all in 30 seconds max.
Called the AA,who proceeded to fill up the expension tank, and without refitting the screw on cap. Rev the engine and watch the coolant spill out, Over several minutes of this, he announced the head gasket had gone. So back 50 miles homein the AA van. Upon returning home, I checked the radiator fan was working by briding the to wires to the temp sensor. The rad fan worked. So topped up the system, let the engine idle and observed what happened. Everything was fine. Threw in some rad weld coolant system treatment. Threw a 5 litre container of coolant in the boot, and headed back to york.
Took my time and made it with no issues. Stayed in york over night. The next morning I needed to top up the coolant with a pint. Made it home as well (240 miles) all in. Couple of times on the steep hills I put the blowers on hot to play it safe. But it never went above the 3/4 quarters marker on the temp guage. Will see how much coolant it used on the return journey tomorrow morning. My query is, is the logic the AA used of the coolant spilling out of the uncapped over flowtank every time he revved the knackers off the engine a real test of a failed head gasket? it seems that for some reason the rad fan didn't cut in, and I suspect the rad might be clogged up and need flushing. Or there was an air lock. I reakon I need to monitor how much coolant it is using during regular useage and take it from there.
Called the AA,who proceeded to fill up the expension tank, and without refitting the screw on cap. Rev the engine and watch the coolant spill out, Over several minutes of this, he announced the head gasket had gone. So back 50 miles homein the AA van. Upon returning home, I checked the radiator fan was working by briding the to wires to the temp sensor. The rad fan worked. So topped up the system, let the engine idle and observed what happened. Everything was fine. Threw in some rad weld coolant system treatment. Threw a 5 litre container of coolant in the boot, and headed back to york.
Took my time and made it with no issues. Stayed in york over night. The next morning I needed to top up the coolant with a pint. Made it home as well (240 miles) all in. Couple of times on the steep hills I put the blowers on hot to play it safe. But it never went above the 3/4 quarters marker on the temp guage. Will see how much coolant it used on the return journey tomorrow morning. My query is, is the logic the AA used of the coolant spilling out of the uncapped over flowtank every time he revved the knackers off the engine a real test of a failed head gasket? it seems that for some reason the rad fan didn't cut in, and I suspect the rad might be clogged up and need flushing. Or there was an air lock. I reakon I need to monitor how much coolant it is using during regular useage and take it from there.
