How long can I drive with an over heated engine?

[tml678]

Ouch, sorry to hear.

Same to you mate. It's bloody terrible!

 

[immortality]

My engine over heated tonight, made it back home just in time. This time I made a short video. What's hard to see is there is a bit of smoke coming out from near the yellow coolant cap area.

That is the coolant overflow/expansion tank which is indicating the pressure cap isn't maintaining pressure. Replace the pressure cap (the one that makes the ouchie if you remove it whilst hot and under pressure).

 

[Clemine]

If as you say there is coolant under the car at times then I would say head gasket or a cracked head.
Get one of your 2 mechanics to do a compression check.

 

[BowTie]

Failed Rad cap fills overflow bottle. Overflow bottle has an overflow tube that drops coolant under the left hand passenger side rail.

 

[Big Red VF-SII Go-kart]

Leaking coolant can come from either the coolant cap (on the engine) having worn out its seal (very common with age), or the end of service life for the coolant pump, which will be raspy when running and dribble coolant. When the coolant pump is on the way out temperature will vary erratically, often moving into the hot zone before the fans come on to assist in cooling. Over time the dribble from the coolant pump will become a torrent and a lot will be lost frequently. No Alloytec should ever be driven without coolant, or when there are obvious warnings displayed over overheating, even if you think you know the cause is benign, it's not.

 

[trautman]

take the thermostat out in summer they are only good for winter

 

[losh1971]

I think for the effort to take out a Alloytec thermostat you would want replace it and never touch it again.

 

[J_D 2.0]

I think for the effort to take out a Alloytec thermostat you would want replace it and never touch it again.

Or remove it and never touch it again!

 

[Fu Manchu]

The answer is 30

 

[losh1971]

The answer is 30

Nah, the answer is 42.