Thread: I cant take a trick.

Car was found to have a 40% blocked radiator, and had a new one installed. (apparently the radiato placer couldn't get the old one to reseal after they pulled it apart.)
The whole engine was given a thorough going over to check for damage to the block, liners and head gaskets ect, and all have come back good. car has now been picked up. Runs like a dream.

Bugger! car over heated again, just like before! looks like a cracked block now!

Ouch!

After talking to Ron at some length last night (thanks so much Ron for taking the call) I refilled the system with the car on a steep slope, and disconected the bleeder valve. Took 10 liters of water OMFG!!!
any way I restrted the car and let her rune fro 10 mins with out the cap, and no over heating, I replaced the cap and let run for another 5 mins, still no over heat. Took it for a run down the driveway ( I have a long dirt and steep driveway) and again it didnt over heat. I stopped the car to see if would dump the fluid as it did to my wife, but no, just a little drizzle! Took it for a thrashing of the driveway, still no over heating, and after I stopped it again a little drizzle out of the expansion tank overflow.
Had a look at thew cap its BUGGERED CANT SEAL!!!!! youd think when a mechanis puts a new radiator and new thermostat they would check the damn CAP!!
so I went and bought a new one this afternoon and caned it back home and up the driveway, NO over heat not drizzles, NOTHING!!! Now fingers crossed it doesnt start drinking little sips of water!! with out external leaks.

i had a problem like that with the disco, so i did the hoses, flushed the system etc and did a full service, in the end it was the epxansion chamber cap. I am not sure how the P38 works though. I would start with the easiest to diagnose and the cheapest and work my way through the list.