AU I6 cooling system

[Road_Warrior]

Gents

The Mrs' bunkie doesn't seem to like hot days now that they're here. Spews a fair amount of coolant out of the header tank overflow. Temp guage doesn't seem to go higher than the 'O' in the N O R M A L writing on the guage, but the amount of coolant coming out suggests something else is going on. Both of the thermofans appear to be working.

I may replace the radiator cap and see if that makes a difference. It has the Ford 120kPa unit on there now. Should I do the thermostat as well? Parked on a level surface with the engine running, the bleeder hose that runs from the thermostat housing to the header tank is working overtime shoving coolant into the header tank - is it supposed to be doing this?

Radiator was replaced by Natrad last year, for the previous owner. I would assume they did a flush at the same, time, the coolant colour looks very clean and blue.

[Day-mow]

i'd put a thermo in. for $20 you cant really go wrong. but that does sound a bit odd.

check your rocket cover cap and dip stick. see what color the oil is.

do you seem to loose coolant?

[supershifty]

My EA had the exact same problem. It was intermittent at first, then became regular. Turned out to be a blown head gasket. Funnily enough it would only spit out coolant until the engine warmed up, only then would it stop gurgling and spitting from the header tank.

Try warming the car up in the driveway without the pressure cap on and see what happens with the gurgling.

Cheers!

[Kryton]

Its the radiator cap.

[TheInterceptor]

Had the same problem. I replaced the standard 120kpa rad cap with a 130kpa unit from Repco and replaced the thermostat (which appeared to be stuck open) while i was at it. Done this a lil while ago and so far through heavy use and all, not a single drop has come out of the tank

[mik]

you could always drop into one of the tune up places and get them to stick the gas analyser probe into the coolant, if there`s exhaust/combustion gas in there you have a leaking head gasket.

[auIILTD]

My first thought was head gasket. A radiator place will also be able to do a quick test for exhaust gases in the coolant. If anything, a cooling specialist will be able to tell you what is going on. Generally they won't charge for the quick test.

Cheers
Stu

[Road_Warrior]

Well...if it's the head, then that is the end game for this car. I'm not spending that sort of money on it after what I have had to do to it in the 10 months I've owned it. However it doesn't generally use coolant, it was only after a hot drive under load it did this coolant spewing thing, and I'm thinking its the rad cap.

[Day-mow]

lets hope so.

[GK]

A few years ago mine did the same. Replaced the cap and all was good!

All the best with it.

GK

[Ford Falcon XR6]

Had the same problem when i first bought my car turned out to be the cap for some reason someone fitted the wrong one.