Sprinter van coolant pressure

[Woody.v8]

Hi all, my sprinter is pressuring its cooling system and losing coolant via the header tank overflow,
It's not getting hot and the heaters are nice and toasty.
I've not had the van long and the bloke who sold it to me had it parked up for 6 months assures me as there was no problems before .
When I first noticed it ,the coolant was coming out of the cap and going everywhere, I've bought a new cap and now it's just coming out of the overflow, it takes around 20 miles for this to happen.
I've had the coolant "sniff" tested and all was good?
I'm going to fit a thermostat tomorrow just in case it stuck, but I'm fearing it's a cylinder head off job after that?
What do you lot think?, Cheers

 

[the snooper]

how soon after staring from cold is it pressurising ?

 

[Woody.v8]

how soon after staring from cold is it pressurising ?

Errm, well if I was to take the cap off from stone cold it would hiss as I take the cap off, I'm not sure how to answer the question properly as I don't know?
I don't know if I'm being paranoid but I thought it had dumped a load of water this morning from cold? I backed down the street and there was a trail?

 

[wobblemonster]

What age of Sprinter is it ?

 

[the snooper]

Errm, well if I was to take the cap off from stone cold it would hiss as I take the cap off, I'm not sure how to answer the question properly as I don't know?
I don't know if I'm being paranoid but I thought it had dumped a load of water this morning from cold? I backed down the street and there was a trail?

take the cap off when cold put it back on and start up so it has no pre stored pressure, if you then remove it after running for a couple of mins and it hisses I would say head gasket, is the temp gauge working right, if not pressurising within a few mins could be thermostat and temp gauge faulty

 

[Woody.v8]

What age of Sprinter is it ?

Sorry 2004 2.2cdi

 

[colnerov]

Hi,While it's warming up feel the temperature of the main rad to see if it's warming up uniformly and for any and how many cold spots. It may have blocked up from being stood for a while.

Colin

 

[Woody.v8]

take the cap off when cold put it back on and start up so it has no pre stored pressure, if you then remove it after running for a couple of mins and it hisses I would say head gasket

I'm thinking along these lines myself, hopefully gasket and not cracked head, it drives mint and the bloke I had it off swears on his nans urn that it was ok beforehand

 

[Woody.v8]

Hi,While it's warming up feel the temperature of the main rad to see if it's warming up uniformly and for any and how many cold spots. It may have blocked up from being stood for a while.

Colin

I will give it a whirl

 

[the snooper]

as long as its not pressuring while the coolant is cold there are other options, but cold and pressurising only means one thing

 

[123hotchef]

could be the stat, I am going through the same thing with my L200

 

[the snooper]

could be the stat, I am going through the same thing with my L200

not having much luck with that thing

 

[Woody.v8]

as long as its not pressuring while the coolant is cold there are other options, but cold and pressurising only means one thing

I know I know, do you think the stat maybe stuck (i don't) with standing?
I think I'm being optimistic because it's mine

 

[Woody.v8]

could be the stat, I am going through the same thing with my L200

Don't know mate? My L200 animal is off the road due to a to a torrey canyon style oil leak

 

[rtbcomp]

Take the rad cap off, start the engine and look for bubbles rising out of the coolant. Their presence would indicate a head gasket leak.

 

[the snooper]

I know I know, do you think the stat maybe stuck (i don't) with standing?
I think I'm being optimistic because it's mine

well if you dont get bubbles / pressure when cold wait until its fully warmed up then feel the bottom hose on the radiator, it should be warm if the stat is open

 

[Woody.v8]

well if you dont get bubbles / pressure when cold wait until its fully warmed up then feel the bottom hose on the radiator, it should be warm if the stat is open

Both hoses are about the same temperature,so I guess it's head off time

 

[Johnseat]

You are running the 611 engine which is very common for blowing the head gasket between the chambers and coolant ducts.
Done hundreds in my time at merc but be warned the heads can also crack and it isn't uncommon.
Best get the head off, have it pressure tested and skimmed.

 

[the snooper]

Both hoses are about the same temperature,so I guess it's head off time

i think you are probably doing the right thing, they dont usually kick water out unless the temp guage says its overheating

 

[Woody.v8]

From cold this morning I topped it up to the max level and put a the overflow into a pop bottle, I went to the local merc place (about 2 miles) checked bottle, yep about a litre in it ,
I bought a thermostat and went to the unit and put the new stat on (it comes as a full unit with housing etc)
I ran it until warm with the header tank cap off and drove home about 10miles, when I got home there was no water in the pop bottle, yay.
I then went to my dad's about 15 mile either way, when I got back home about a litre of water in pop bottle, balls .
Oh well I tried, the big stripdown commences tomorrow..........