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[JamesV6CDX]

My friend has just bought an N reg Elite 3.0, with 140k on the clock. Mint interior, and nice bodywork. Engine is good but needs a bit of TLC.

The main thing I noticed is that it's running warm. On a motorway run the temp sits at 95, letting it tick over after a run it topped 100+. However, give it a hard rev, and the gauge shoots down again. Then it creeps back up.

I noticed that loosening the header tank cap, there was a fair bit of pressure in the system, and the bit of coolant that escaped was fairly manky.

I'm wondering if this could be a HBV issue? Any advise much appreciated before I make a start on it.

Cheers

[TheBoy]

I would flush it through a few times, could just be old/crap coolant.

[theolodian]

Check the fan switch in the radiator too.

[JamesV6CDX]

Check the fan switch in the radiator too.

Where is this, and what do I check? I guess it's on the passenger side of the Rad? Is it just worth replacing? The fan doesn't seem to come in early enough, that's for sure.

[x25xe]

What temperature does the fan come in at?

TBH I would say that all is OK - mine also sits at 95 on the motorway or generally running around.  The system is supposed to be pressurised which is why pressure escaped when you loosened the header tank cap.  It is this pressure that stops the water from boiling at 100oC.

As The Boy says, give it a flush a few times.  I did this with my car and noted that whilst it does not seem to run any cooler, it takes longer for the temperature to climb when in stop start traffic etc.

I used mineral water and Vauxhall Red Antifreeze.

Hope this helps.

Let us know how you get on.

[JamesV6CDX]

Cheers Matey

I wouldn't use mineral water though because it will increase deposits. Apparently rain water is the best because it's soft..

[x25xe]

When I say mineral, I mean the water you can buy at supermarkets.  I was advised to choose one with a low calcium value as this is what causes the "furring up" of the system.

However, if you have it, rain water is, as you say, best.  It is just that it is hard to collect and keep clean.

[RonaldMcBurger]

2 possibles - gunge in header tank = probable oil cooler. Other posibilty is temperature gauge itself as I found out after a lot of trouble last week. Swap a known good speedo pod and see if reads the same.