Thanks again, Michael.
Coolant seems to run out very easily when I drain down? looks clean? having said that, I did notice there was a little engine oil (not emulsified) floating in the coolant that drained out from the smaller hose that goes from the Thermostat cover to the bottom left (passenger side LHD) of the radiator? Is this a bypass for when the thermostat is closed?

 

Water pumps really don't create that much pressure when the system is in good working order. It's more like a circulator pump. If the thermostat didn't budge in the boiling water, it's toast. Don't run the engine without it or a closed one, or you have much worse issues with you aluminum block and heads. Remember the thread about the guys father-in law that cooked his X350? (ex x350)

 

Hi Ray,

By the sounds of things your problem is the thermostat. If the outer part of the seal has broken off, which it looks like, then water will be getting past the thermostat and not correctly controlled, especially if the thermostat is also sticking or seized. Therefore not helping with the control of temperature and hence the hotter running you are experiencing.

I suggested replacing the housing just because it in that area of the car and can be done at the same time as having all the intake etc off. And the housing comes with the thermostat and the temp sensor all in one so for under £50 it was a bargain when I did it and just made financial sense at the time, especially as I had a leak as well. And I did the water pump on mine at the same time as I had the coolant completely drained so was an ideal time to do it all together. The car has not lost a drop of coolant since that. The car was going through 2 litres of coolant every three days

I have pictures of all the coolant down the front of engine, all over the pulley wheels and all over the pipework at the bottom of the engine bay at the front of the car. When I fixed it the car squealed the first time I started the car and a few times after because the pulleys where so covered in old coolant.

Good luck with replacing the thermostat. Let us know how you get on.

Thanks,

Chris

 

Hello Chris,

Thank you.
All the posters above were 100% correct, my thermostat had both seized and its rubber seal had disintegrated. I have replaced the thermostat and my overheating problem has gone; sits there prettily at 93 degrees C....

Thanks again to all!

 

Hi Ray,

Excellent news. Glad to have helped. Hope the injector replacement also went well.

Thanks,

Chris

 

Hello Chris; I bought the complete housing as you suggested, but for the moment I simply removed the thermostat and replaced mine. I will tackle the whole job in a month or two when the temps here become bearable!

Thanks again for you kind help.

Ray

 

Hi Ray,

Yes it's a much larger job to change the whole housing as the throttle body and other items has to be removed. Good luck when you get around to doing it. Give us a shout if you get stuck.

Cheers,

Chris