[M.Acorn]

  Vaux astra epic diesel turbo 1.7 1996 p reg vaux engine.

Leccy fan did not work all winter,did not have any overheating probs,got down the scrappy a couple of months ago and got new leccy fan,which didn`t work either !
So i ran another + from the battery and cut it into the + wire on the fan,put a switch on it,so i start van in morn,pop bonnet and turn rad fan on ( i know i didn`t have wire long enough,in the ampage for running it,or a spare relay.).
Trouble is it`s still getting right up close to the red on the temp gauge,it`s prob using a pint of water per 100 miles,checked under bonnet for any obvious leaks when it`s been hot and running.
Got no water in oil no oil in water,no mayo in rocker cover so don`t think it`s head gasket.

When i have had it running with the expansion cap off ,it does not look like the water is moving,so i am thinking it`s the water pump ? Or will it only move when pressurised ?

Can`t see where the water pump is ? Not driven off the belt that drives the alt,could it be driven by the cam belt ?
Typical that it waits till i am rushed off my feet

[Joe H]

Have you looked at the thermostat?

If you take it out and dunk it into a pan of hot water you should see it opening.

If it doesnt open then its only a few quid for a new one plus gasket.

[M.Acorn]

Thermostat is next on my list,the bell housing bit is covered in scale,had the bolts soaking in plus gas,going to give them a tap with the hammer and try and get them out,i suppose if it`s not opening it will stop water circulating.

[JandS]

You leave the radiator fan running all time engine is running??

John

[markpowell]

Joe is correct or at least that would be what i would think is the problem

[M.Acorn]

Yeah fan on constant from the moment i start the vam up,turn it off when parked up and stopped etc,it`s a fan from the same vehicle,but it stil gets too hot ! Have to have the heater blowing out red hot air too,so it does not boil over and cook the engine,not good in this weather !

[Jim_77]

Time to get a new van?!

[markpowell]

There only a few quid and 10 mins work to replace the thermostat
Mark

[Karl Wildey]

when you get it sorted, put longer leads on your rad wires and have a switch in the van, save lifting bonnet all the time

[JandS]

If the actual temp gauge is showing too hot it probably is
overheating.
Need to get it to a garage and sort out the fan as it isn't
doing it's job properly.
Leaving it running all time will also be a drain on your battery.

John

[M.Acorn]

Not sure why fan stopped working,i shorted out the temp switch,which should have made the fan come on,it`s a prob between fuse and feed to + on the fan,i did test it when it was hot enough to warrant the fan comin on 
There are so many fuses and relays under the bonnet,could be any 1 of them,don`t have a multi meter so can`t test

[Paul Heath]

I expect its the GM engine in which case its pointing to the head gasket or even the head. If its been running hot for a while then the head will need skimming. The themocoupling switch for the fan is usually in the rad,its normally that is what gives up and not the fan  Sorry but it looks like its going cost a few ££

[carpetmonsters]

Hi

A common problem with astras are heads

Steve

[M.Acorn]

Got no mayo though ? no water in oil or oil in water,not down on performance either ?
If thats the case i will prob weigh it in

[Neil Williams]

Got no mayo though ? no water in oil or oil in water,not down on performance either ?

If only things were so simple.
The cooling system is pressurized so it is possible for coolant to enter the chambers and be burnt off with the fuel. It's not always the case that the break will be between oil and coolant, so that the two mix.
It does sound the thermatstat is jammed closed because you're cooling one half of the system with the heater matrix in the cab. By any chance is the water in the main radiator staying below very high temperature?

[M.Acorn]

s the water in the main radiator staying below very high temperature?

I felt the rad and you could be right,i could keep my hand yhere without it melting,need to investigate on Sat,3 jobs today ,all miles apart

[Joe H]

The thermostat retains the water heated by the engine within the engine block. Your cab heater draws off that heat as well.
At this point the radiator will stay cold (there will be a very small amount of water designed to flow from the engine).
When the engine temperature becomes sufficiently hot (for it to be working efficiently) then the thermostat opens and you get full flow to the radiator as well.
You will notice on your temperature gauge when the thermostat opens the gauge drops slightly. This is because the cold water in the radiator is now in full flow and passing over the temperature gauge sensor.
This is another visible check for you to do without any mechanics.  When you drive off this morning watch the temperature gauge - see if it drops slightly after a few miles, the point the thermostat is opening (if indeed it is opening).

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

bet you have done the head in very commen  with these vans , i bet you the head gaket as gone between the water ways so its burning water rather then dumping it in the oil

[M.Acorn]

Tried an experiment today,didn`t bother using the fan on the radiator,just saw if i could get by using just the heater + weather was in my favour ! 15 Mile trip to Cambridge,traffic was moving which is pretty uncommon ! For the A14..Managed to keep the temp well below what it had been.Then had to drive accross town to next job,via Wilco £15 for a flippin thermostat !
Will fit that tomorrow morning,before i go and do my job,will be crossing everything it`s not h/gasket,could do it myself at a push,but would rather not bother.
Don`t massivly tuned turbo engines have water injection into the bores to stop pre detonation ? Might have to get myself a big far Garret turbo off an audi tt.as i am half way there !
The local scrayy has loads of turbo diesels in,think this engine is pretty common.would only cost me £50 and my time.Not sure if the van is worth it though,need to do the rear arches before winter,as it`s looking a bit messy,not very professional looking really

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

yes your right about the big power units but if the water sleev as gone it will be over heating the head in one point and if your going to change the h.g. yourself rember to get it checked befour fitting a new one , as it may need skimming and not to forget the new head bolts 

but hoprfuly you wont have to do it at all