[NZ Benz]

Hi Guys,

Just thought I'd share my cooling issues with you.

You might recall I replaced my T-Stat recently because of higher than normal running temps. This worked for about 2 days and then I got high temps again.

I then moved to Auckland which has rather congested traffic and decided that I could not go on like this.

I took my car to a well recommended mechanic and said to the effect "I don't care what you have to do. Find it and fix it!" Usually these are dangerous words to say to a mechanic because after that they start deciding in their minds how big the pool they will be putting in the back yard will be.

The fix turned out to be that one of the tubes to the expansion tank had a crack in the plastic. The mechanic said this was causing the coolant to not have the correct pressure and lower the boiling temp and as such causing the car to run way too hot.

It's also important to note that within the last 3 years the car has had a new water pump, radiator and T-Stat so the cooling system should be in excellent condition.

I drove the car home in rush hour and decided to drive it hard to see if the problem really was fixed in really long lines of traffic the temp did move between the 80 and the next bar but never ever over.

The only downer on the whole thing was that the older tank for the pre-facelift is not sold any more so I had to get a new radiator cap - but that's a small price to pay.

Overall the cost in NZD was:

Overflow tank: 175
Radiator Cap: 60 (I think that is high but they did go drive to the dealer for it in traffic)
Labour: 56.25

Hope that points some others in the right direction.

 

[samosali]

very well. thanks. will keep in mind.

 

[TasmanianDevil]

Interesting.

Have you seen the crack yourself?

I mean while checking my car if I were to place a radiator pressure tester on the overflow tank do you suppose I would see a leak or was it so tiny that it would be hard to notice?

Thanks.

 

[NZ Benz]

Interesting.

Have you seen the crack yourself?

I mean while checking my car if I were to place a radiator pressure tester on the overflow tank do you suppose I would see a leak or was it so tiny that it would be hard to notice?

Thanks.

Yes, they were able to show me the old tank the crack was in the bleeder tube where it joined the tank itself it was pretty much straight through the whole pipe at the join. I'm assuming they pressure tested it I didn't think to ask them.

I'm also guessing that the big seal around the tank can perish over time as well and cause the same issues.

They found it quite quickly so I'm sure that you would notice it.

 

[bayhas]

I am guessing you re talking about the upper small entry piper? (coming from the top of the thermostat housing)

these break ALL THE TIME, and they dont leak fluid, they leak steam instead, rendering the system unable to reach the high PSI it is designed for...

Generally, if you take the cap off, and the you dont hear the PSHHHHHHH, and there are no external leaks to be seen, you need to check/replace the cap, then check that pipe for cracks... be very gentle, because it is usualy fairly dry, you could break it while checking... even if it was intact to begin with...

 

[NZ Benz]

I am guessing you re talking about the upper small entry piper? (coming from the top of the thermostat housing)

these break ALL THE TIME, and they dont leak fluid, they leak steam instead, rendering the system unable to reach the high PSI it is designed for...

Generally, if you take the cap off, and the you dont hear the PSHHHHHHH, and there are no external leaks to be seen, you need to check/replace the cap, then check that pipe for cracks... be very gentle, because it is usualy fairly dry, you could break it while checking... even if it was intact to begin with...

That must be exactly what it was then because the mechanic mentioned that the system could not reach the proper pressure. I must have misunderstood. I usually hear the pressure noise when I release though.

I'm not surprised it was cracked considering the temps and it's age.

 

[TasmanianDevil]

I am sorry for the partial engine picture since its the only one I have around right now, is the area marked in a yellow circle the connection you are talking about?

 

[NZ Benz]

Yeah that's the one.

 

[TasmanianDevil]

Will check mine too then. Thanks for the information

 

[NZ Benz]

Will check mine too then. Thanks for the information

Hope it helps. I don't want to re-litigate all this but the temps you're getting really are two high. IMO anything above the line above 80 is starting to push it. That's pretty close to the red line.

 

[Shane10010]

Great news!

I replaced my Expansion Tank a month or two as both the inlet and Outlet pipes were damaged - from overtightening and age I suspect.

I have still been losing a little water from the Inlet portion of the tank and there are traces of coolant so have tightened the hoseclamp slightly and will see if that sorts it.

Not been stuck in traffic and outside temperatures have been between -6 and 1 degrees celsius so not had the chance to check the operating temperatures.

Cheers
Shane

 

[Disco Dan]

Good to hear you got it sorted finally NZ Benz !

Have you had a chance to visit the treasure trove/graveyard known as starfarm down Waitakere road?

Last time I visited they had a benz hanging in the air from a crane!
Amazing amount of parts though, but remember they are cash only no EFTPOS.

 

[NZ Benz]

Good to hear you got it sorted finally NZ Benz !

Have you had a chance to visit the treasure trove/graveyard known as starfarm down Waitakere road?

Last time I visited they had a benz hanging in the air from a crane!
Amazing amount of parts though, but remember they are cash only no EFTPOS.

No, sadly not yet. I seem to be spending most of my time stuck at the office! But I'll try to get out there before summer ends.

 

[drcvd]

Hi Guys,

Just thought I'd share my cooling issues with you.

You might recall I replaced my T-Stat recently because of higher than normal running temps. This worked for about 2 days and then I got high temps again.

I then moved to Auckland which has rather congested traffic and decided that I could not go on like this.

I took my car to a well recommended mechanic and said to the effect "I don't care what you have to do. Find it and fix it!" Usually these are dangerous words to say to a mechanic because after that they start deciding in their minds how big the pool they will be putting in the back yard will be.

The fix turned out to be that one of the tubes to the expansion tank had a crack in the plastic. The mechanic said this was causing the coolant to not have the correct pressure and lower the boiling temp and as such causing the car to run way too hot.

It's also important to note that within the last 3 years the car has had a new water pump, radiator and T-Stat so the cooling system should be in excellent condition.

I drove the car home in rush hour and decided to drive it hard to see if the problem really was fixed in really long lines of traffic the temp did move between the 80 and the next bar but never ever over.

The only downer on the whole thing was that the older tank for the pre-facelift is not sold any more so I had to get a new radiator cap - but that's a small price to pay.

Overall the cost in NZD was:

Overflow tank: 175
Radiator Cap: 60 (I think that is high but they did go drive to the dealer for it in traffic)
Labour: 56.25

Hope that points some others in the right direction.

Nearly the same time like to me last week
I had accidentally found the evidence of a bit dry coolant just below to the neck of the plastic tube of the exp. tank and seen the crack at the proximal end of the tube.(lateral upper aspect) I suspect the cause is not the age but is the careless force to the rubber hose(centrally..me or somebody)

I know that the tank is not so expensive to replace.I like to try to experiment some procedure to repair it orther than to replace with wellknown POWER GLUE ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate 97% w/w(15Thai ฿/2gm)

After the trip to Bangkok (300kms) and stop and go traffic(60kms) the temp. needle never pass 90 C as ever before and not found anyleakage

It's one of my 4 veh. .Don't follow me if you don't sure

 

[D.T.]

Good to hear you got it sorted finally NZ Benz !

Have you had a chance to visit the treasure trove/graveyard known as starfarm down Waitakere road?

Last time I visited they had a benz hanging in the air from a crane!
Amazing amount of parts though, but remember they are cash only no EFTPOS.

I remember seeing a Rolls hanging from a crane. It was a junkyard on the road between Hamilton and Cambridge.