Scirocco Register

i've had all the oil cooling system done and removed the thromostat and replace the rad cap as she keeps over heating, water is boiling and coming out of the tank via the cap, does anyone else have the same problem or have had this problem that could tell me whats causing it. thanks rich

have you got a blue cap or one of the earlier black ones?

the later ones work better.

Hate to say it but sounds like it could be a head gasket... have you done a compression test??

blocked radiator?
water pump on the way out?
do I read correctly that you've got the thermostat out? or have you replaced it? if you've replaced it, does the replacement work?

got both caps and does it with both, thremo is out and haven't replaced as yet, i did the water pump 2 years ago. she is driving me up the wall!!!!!!

Are you sure the ignition timing and cam timing is correct

the previous idiot owner remove the manual choke, she did tick over at 900rpm but now i have remove the thremo she ticks over at around 400rpm.

Might be an air lock? Is the heater blowing out hot air if not try to fill the engine with water/antifreeze via the hose from the top of the rad to the head.

can you see water circulating in the expansion tank when you rev it?

if yes - start with a headgasket test

if no, suspect either water pump or blockage in the system

went out in her today , only about 7 miles . stopped and she smelt warm ! on the way back the oil buzzer came on 4 times when i sped up and as soon as i took my foot of the gas it stopped ! hammered a coupled of times and she been as good as gold, it was a 70 zone when i nailed her from standing start ! but she's not acted like a kettle today!!!!!

Just to pipe up and say you are not alone. Mine (Mk2 Storm) has just begun to get rather hot also. Oddly intermittent though. Fine for 50 miles, then suddenly shoots up. Drop revs below 2000 and a couple of miles then it settles back. Then speed up it's fine at 3000 revs for next 80 miles, then it suddently shoots up again etc. Up and down like a tarts undies

Thanks for the tips all. Seems relevant to me too. I need to start with a system drain/refill and the thermostat. Hope it's not the head gasket !!

extra noob question. Why would the header tank cap make such a difference. I assume its to do with it retaining (or not) a required pressure in the cooling system ?

Hope yours stays OK now scirocco_1969

The newer cap holds a higher pressure therefore raising the boiling point of the water in the system. You want the water hot but not boiling as the air bubbles in the water remove it from the metal of the block and reduce the cooling effect.

DJPremier wrote:I need to start with a system drain/refill and the thermostat. Hope it's not the head gasket !!

surely if you suspect there is a chance it might be the head gasket, that would be the first thing to test for? no point in replacing the coolant if you're going to have to drain it out again to do another repair. get your local garage to do a sniff test on it. only takes 2 seconds and should give you a definite answer

I did suspect the cooling system first TBH. It was only this post thread that made me fear worse. Anyhow it's fixed

Drained it. All the way with the thermostat out. Flushed it out with a hose till clear. Refilled with water and Wynnes radiator scourge. Ran it up to temp for 15 mins or so. Drained, flushed. Fitted new thermostat and tank cap (blue). Refilled with water (as part of test routine. No point in wasting coolant)

Took it for a spin, sustained driving over about 20 miles at or over 300rpm, It was fine. Drained out 2L of the water via the bottom hose and replaced with 2L of G12. Took it for a second test spin. Another drive, and why not. All been fine since. Must have been a large-ish airlock somewhere.

Considering I'm such a noob and this was my first bit of proper spannering on the car I was quite pleased. Lessons from the experience were:
It was simpler than I thought. Read the Haynes. Read this forum. Ask. Don't be afraid.
Wear a mask and goggles when you are under the car and pulling the old thermostat and O-ring out. It came out all sudden, I got a face full of dirty coolant