vt overheating

[crew.man]

99 vt series 2 big problem with it overheating, i have had a new radiator and thermostat put in and still heats up.
what it does...
if i pull up at a set of lights for a long period of time or in heavy traffic the temp gauge rockets upwards and the hot warning light comes on.
but as soon as i start driving the gauge drops dramatically?
It uses about a cup of water a day and strains a bit when starting sometimes but starts still.
my mechanic is stumped and suggests a water pump but i dont want to keep paying for things to be done to it that dont need it.
any help would be appreciated?
Cheers Peter

[dazza33]

Not a head gasket is it? I had similar symptoms and it was the head gasket.

Cheers, Daz.

[accentstencil]

Did he bleed the system to get rid of any air. This could be the problem

[crew.man]

hmm upon a quick inspection i have found the infamous white gunk under oil cap. how much should it cost me to fix it or am i better off flogging it off to a used car salesman

[dazza33]

Depending on how much water is under the cap. Just make sure it's not just condensation first, take it back to the mechanic and get him to check the pots, do a compression test and/or a pressure test....This will give you a definitive answer as to a head or head gasket. A mechanic shouldn't charge more than say $70 to do it. Check the Dip Stick for traces of water.

If it is a head, you have to do both heads. An estimate would be around $800 per side, someone else will know exactly how much. When i did my gasket i just put it a reco motor, bear in mind mine had done 300,000 K's.

Cheers, Daz.

[crew.man]

when it first started overheating i had a different mechanic check it over, pressure test was good and also did the test where he put the device in the radiator to check for fumes or something and that too was ok. the gunk seemed to be an off white material about as thick as shaving cream about a fifth of a teaspoon. no traces of water on dipstick???

[dazza33]

Another tell tale sign is little bubbles whilst running with the radiator cap off. Anyway you had the tests done, but there's water there. It may have been a build up over time, perhaps clean the cap and monitor it over the weekend. Sort of run out of idea's I'm sorry.

[crew.man]

thanks i will be going to my gfs uncle again next weekend for pink slip so will test it again and just monitor it o supose will post any results
thanks

[crew.man]

ok got held up at lights and it started overheating amd temp gauge rose up, i put it in neutral and picked up the revs and the temp gauge dropped back to normal???
my car is abnormal
i honestly dont know?
would the water pump need replacing anyone
cheers

[accentstencil]

ok got held up at lights and it started overheating amd temp gauge rose up, i put it in neutral and picked up the revs and the temp gauge dropped back to normal???
my car is abnormal
i honestly dont know?
would the water pump need replacing anyone
cheers

It is a possible that the internals of the water pump are badly corroded and not circulating the coolant fast enough until the revs pick up.

[south21]

are your fans coming on ????

[crew.man]

fans coming on yeh i am kinda leaning towards the water pump but how am i losing water?

[adamc11]

It is a possible that the internals of the water pump are badly corroded and not circulating the coolant fast enough until the revs pick up.

This could be the case.

I think your head gasket is gone... if your seeing foam under your oil cap, even if it isn't heaps, then this points towards your gasket. If your having problems starting the car, then this is also a sign. Each time you turn the car off water is probably leaking through the hole in the gasket into the cylinder and this has to burn off each time you start your car. This is why you are losing water. A good way of testing this though (which doesn't always work, worth a try though)... Start your car, run it for a minute or so, then turn it off and start it straight away. Now, turn it off and leave it a few minutes then start it up. If it started fine when you turned it off and on quickly, and didn't start as well after leaving it off for a few minutes, then it is probably your head gasket.

I would say if your attached to your car and have done things to it, then just spend the 1-2k or whatever it costs and change the gasket over. Maybe put on an aftermarket one so it doesn't happen again =)

[crew.man]

cheers mate not attached to it so i think i will get rid of it.

[adamc11]

Find out what it costs to have it fixed, ring a few places. You will probably get a shit trade in amount so it might be worth fixing it, unless this gives you a reason to get something newer

[Vt_vic]

if ya trade it in like the way it is you will prolly get next to nothing for it

[adamc11]

If it's not too bad they won't even realise. Half the dealers don't even drive the car they just give it a visual inspection and make you an offer.

[235rwkw]

auto? if so could be the auto cooler tanks in the radiator leaking

[Gazzer]

Or the Inlet manifold....

Head gaskets dont really blow on iron heads.