Overheating

[General Lee]

Hi,

I bought my nova diamond monday, and on the way back, i noticiced that the temperature gauge was going up and up, so i pulled over to check it out and felt the pipes, the top pipe that goes from the rad to the header tank was really pressurised, and really hot, but the big pipe that goes to the bottom of the rad to the back of the engine was a luke warm, and didn't feel very pressurized at all, the temperature went down after i set off again, but then was on an up and down, all the way back. It was never at a stable temp, but it also never went above the half way mark on the temp gauge.

I haven't had a chance to look at anything yet, so just asking to see what it sounds like to you guys.

I have done a search but found no symptons the same as mine.

The first thing i will replace will be the thermostat, because this is the most likely!

Also the vehicle before i bought it has been standing for several months.

Thanks
Nathan

[Graeme]

I'd check that the radiator isn't blocked

[General Lee]

What way round does the water go.

I.E through the bottom then out the top hose of the rad or the other way around.

[mowgli]

get it flushed out, put in a new stat, then you should be ok. worse case scenario is a head gasket

[General Lee]

just had a look on my lunch break, the pipe that comes from the stat to the top of the rad is sqaushed in, it still has water in it but is not rounded

[Sloth]

i'd say head gasket, classic symptoms.
it flows = top hose, rad, bottom hose, block.

[Annie]

head gasket... Mine has just gone done the same thing, engine to rad pipe pressurised & also header tank. Temp goes up to half way & just sits there but doesnt boil over. only way to stop it is to have the blowers on hot & run it with the header cap missing then it sits at the 1/4 mark. Engine in bits at the mo & it was defo the head gasket. :)