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[tooleater]

Had the the motor out for a spin down to London tonight. Temp gauge going higher than normal before fan kicks in. I'm never comfortable if temp gauge goes over 100 deg, but tonight it seemed according to gauge to take a lot longer Anyway I stopped before going on to M1 at jun 1. Engine still running gauge showing 105,with fan running, eventually temp dropped to low 90s. Engine off then slowly released expansion cap. No sign of boiling, tried this again after driving to Watford still no sign of boiling but gauge will still show over 100 after cooling cycle with just ignition on and stay there. I see another member has posted something similar. Aircon has never worked, has had cam belt and new pump+ Vx thermo and and transfer pipe. Any further suggestions appreciated

[Nick W]

Your fan is working?
You're not losing water?
The temperature fluctuates around 100degrees?

What are you worried about?

[tooleater]

Cheers for reply nick, but I have to admit to not disclosing a further related problem I have car 4 years now and it is losing a very small amount of water, trouble is I can't see where, even when Daz did cam belt I could not see any signs of leakage or Anti freeze staining, yet every time fan comes on there is a distinct smell of coolant especially if I open drivers door and motor stationary 

[Andy H]

If it smells strongest when the fans kick in that points to a weeping radiator IMO.

This kind of very slow coolant loss is very difficult to trace when the engine is hot because a tiny quantity of coolant smells very distinctive but evaporates to leave very little trace.

To find the leak you will need to pressure test the system with a cold engine and the inlet manifold removed so you can see the coolant bridge and the top of the oil cooler.

[robson]

I had a tiny leak from the bottom of the rad soon after a water pump change.It took a long time to find it as it tends to evaporate immediately.

[omegod]

Have a peep at the top of the plastic on the sides of the rad, under the plastic underbonnet covers. I had a hairline crack and as soon as coolant came out it vapourised. Took me months to fathom that one

[TheBoy]

100C on gauge is too hot. Are both low and high speed fans working? At 100C, high speed fans should be on...

[Andy H]

Maintenance guide here Pressure Testing Cooling System

[Entwood]

You might want to try a little "off the wall idea" .. that actually works ........  local supermarket and buy a small bottle of bright yellow food colouring ... the stuff that is used to colour cake icing.... pour sufficient into the expansion tank to make the water system VERY yellow once its all mixed in ...

Any leak is then far easier so spot, especially when wet, but even when it dries it leaves a yellow "stain" ....

[tooleater]

I'm in agreement with The Boy, 100deg too hot. As I need lessons in copying and pasting, this is for him. I've only ever had 1 speed on my fan it's never worked on high, on going since purchase, will resort back to bridging out temp sender and using switch I wired inside car

[Omegatoy]

checked heater mattrix?