On Friday I drove 500 klms towing a loaded 6 x 4 trailer and then the car sat for 2 days at which time I drove 5klms without the trailer and the engine hot signal came on. We pulled over and the radiator took 2 litres of water and I also noticed only the left fan was operating. After checking for leaks later that afternoon we did a 500 klm return trip towing a loaded trailer and the engine run lovely and no overheating. Question: Our VX has done 226,000 klms so I'm wondering would it be a good time to replace the radiator, hoses and fans.
I wouldn't bother replacing the radiator or hoses unless they are leaking. Flush the cooling system and fill with good quality coolant. You might want to get they fans checked out because both should have been on when it was overheating.
Was it really overheating since I had only travelled 5 klms or was the hot signal just a warning. I removed the overflow bottle cap and the radiator cap without any built up pressure.
Both fans should be on only if it was still over normal operating temp. when you checked them (it?). On a VX the fans are two stage with the single fan being switched on first then the second if the temp. still rises. If it took coolant then maybe there's a leak somewhere although it will spit water out if the engine overheats, which may be due to a fault in the fan or fan switching.
Very interesting points, I to was wondering if its a 2 stage fan and after travelling 600klms its taken no more water but the engine was only serviced 2 weeks ago. I'll be having a little talk to the service folks about the quality of there workmanship and lack of.
