Overheating.. Again!

[Reck]

Been like this for about a year now, not really a problem in winter - but hitting 3/4 on the gauge on warmer days now. Head gasket is shagged, pretty sure it's leaking exhaust into the coolant since I can bleed it and bleed it - come back half an hour later and I can feel air in the hoses. I'm still umming and ahing about which engine is going in next so for the mean time I'm looking for a stopgap!

I've replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat (twice), replaced alot of the old crusty pipework and it's still running hot. I've got a feeling water isn't circulating properly because the bottom rad hose barely gets warm and if I put the blower on, it only blows hot air when accelerating. Have tested the thermostats in a pan of water and they both open when they should..

While I accumulate pennies for an engine swap, can I run without a stat to keep it cool? Where could I get a t-junction the right size - or do I need to gut the gubbins out of an old stat or jam it open in some way?

[Jeroen]

If you keep using it now you run the risk of damaging the head. Make a bunch of pics of the coolant hoses pls, we recently saw a guy with similar problems and on that car the hoses were connected wrong to make a wrong rad fit... flow problem.

[Reck]

The old rad burst in the middle of town.. I had to keep going since I had an exam at uni. Four or five miles with NO coolant in heavy traffic. I think the damage may already be done. Though that was 12 months ago, still going - M10's are definitely tough. Before that there was no overheating problem, so I am certain the head (or at least the gasket) is already damaged.

The replacement rad is identical to the one I replaced and the hoses were exactly the same too. I'll get some pictures tomorrow.

[e21-Mark]

Change the head gasket and have the head skimmed. Either that or by a cheap M10 from an e30 or something. You could probably get one for fifty quid if you look.

Call Shane on 07783557050 - he says he has a few m10's for sale

[Reck]

Ta for the number. Rang a few breakers and they all wanted £200+!!