Bubbles In Coolant? - Help?

[Rob]

The last few times I've pulled up in the car, if reversing into a space, when I open the door it seems quite warm. The engine is running no hotter than usual on the gauges or anything, but when pulling up and reversing into a space today, I thought I'd check it over...

When I opened the bonnet I found the coolant to be bubbling very slightly (whilst the engine is running)?

Now I'm not massively concerned as the car is running completely normally, and I intend on changing the coolant/thermostat in the next week or two, (it hasn't been done in a while).

Any idea what causes this? I did search to no avail.

The only thing I have can think of that could have been responsible, is a friend opening the coolant cap when the car was still warm, and it hissing a lot? Douche.

All help appreciated.

 

[Gandi69]

Hints at it boiling or exhaust gases getting into it somehow (headgasket or cracked block) but thats at the extreme side of things. As you've not experienced overheating yet I'd take it for a spin and check it out personally, you can buy a tester that'll show up the presence of exhaust gases in the coolant but personally i've not found them to be particularly effective in the past.

 

[Rob]

Yeah, I thought it could have bad implications, but its had no issues at all....

Anyone else got a two pence worth? Is it worth flushing coolant, new thermostat and seeing if there's any issue?

 

[Gandi69]

When its cool, take the cap off and give gently rev it a couple of times and have a mate look in the tank. If you see bubbles emerging then exhaust gases are getting in. I'd personally flush it anyway, its not going to be a bad thing and it'll get rid of any old deposits lurking in the system

 

[Rob]

Yeah I'll give that a go, if it's HG, I'm breaking it. Piece'o shite.

 

[Scrooge]

When its cool, take the cap off and give gently rev it a couple of times and have a mate look in the tank. If you see bubbles emerging then exhaust gases are getting in. I'd personally flush it anyway, its not going to be a bad thing and it'll get rid of any old deposits lurking in the system

He speaketh sense, it's more than likely that the water is coming near to boiling point. If it does it when cold, bad times. The 2.0 isn't really known for HGF is it?

 

[Rob]

Well these bubbles were there after a 40 minute stint in traffic, not straight away... I'll give it a go at lunch.

 

[Scrooge]

Yeah I'll give that a go, if it's HG, I'm breaking it. Piece'o s**te.

Why break it for the sake of a couple of hours work? I agree it isn't worth the hassle if the block is cracked but I doubt that very much.


40 mins is plenty of time for an engine to get hot if your moving slowly in traffic.

 

[Rob]

That's what I mean, the engine was bloody hot when I checked it, but as far as I'm aware, bubbles are never normal? lol

I have no idea what I'm doing with headwork, unless you're offering a hand?

 

[Scrooge]

It is not unheard of tbh mate. I'd be happy to lend a hand, havn't done a HG in a few months lol

 

[Rob]

Well if you're serious, I'll be ringing you no doubt (lol). I'd like to learn TBH. Hard job or a Saturday thing?

Know anywhere good to skim the head? (if it needs it)

Thanks a lot for the offer though, nice to see the forum coming to the rescue

 

[Scrooge]

Yes mate i'm serious, always happy to lend a hand. Should be a saturday thing, I use Gosnays on the A12 in Romford to flat check and skim my heads they are pretty reasonable and defiantley know what they are doing.

 

[Rob]

I assume we'd need to acquire a set of locking tools? As I've just been told the cambelt etc has to come off?

A question for you as you seem clued up: How can we tell if it's the water pump or the HG??? As I'm under the impression it could be either?

 

[Scrooge]

Yep you would need locking tools, and if your cambelt is due or coming close to it a cambelt kit. The best way to check for the HG is do a compression test. When did you have your cambelt done last, did you replace the water pump at the same time?

 

[Rob]

I had my cambelt done like 8k miles ago.... kill me. The water pump wasn't changed no, should have bloody had it done though I get the feeling...

I really REALLY hope it's HG.

If I can get hold of locking tools, do you know what you're doing? (No offence intended) LOL!

 

[Scrooge]

Lol a water pump is only about 40quid for these I think, always worth changing.

Yep I've done two before, (no offence taken). I may even be able to get hold of the locking tools if need be, if my mate still has them, not the shitty laser ones.

 

[-KarL-]

water pump can be replaced without taking the cambelt off can't it? but i guess you will need to replace the Aux belt

 

[Rob]

Just phoned for a compression test, 60 bloody quid?!?!? Because the inlet has to come off so it's an hours labour? FFS

Lol a water pump is only about 40quid for these I think, always worth changing.

Yep I've done two before, (no offence taken). I may even be able to get hold of the locking tools if need be, if my mate still has them, not the s**tty laser ones.

I knew we'd be friends when I met you, pushed together by fate

Cheers for all the help so far mate

water pump can be replaced without taking the cambelt off can't it? but i guess you will need to replace the Aux belt

Interesting...

 

[-KarL-]

Just phoned for a compression test, 60 bloody quid?!?!? Because the inlet has to come off so it's an hours labour? FFS



I knew we'd be friends when I met you, pushed together by fate

Cheers for all the help so far mate



Interesting...

im not really clued up so could be wrong! but when looking through Jord's progress thread it looks like you can,

 

[Adam.]

To test the water pump I've always taken the cap off and had someone rev the car a little. If the water pump works then coolant should be flowing back into the coolant bottle from the hose on the top.

 

[Tunst]

Bring it to me il do a free compression test

 

[Scrooge]

I have a compression tester, so thats not a pronblem mate. Karl is right, we'll only need the locking tools if the head is coming off.

just seen that picture, Where's Jords project thread, that looks like that'll be a good read

 

[-KarL-]

I have a compression tester, so thats not a pronblem mate. Karl is right, we'll only need the locking tools if the head is coming off.

just seen that picture, Where's Jords project thread, that looks like that'll be a good read

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/show...Car-Project-Year-3-Engine-and-Chassis-Rebuild

255 pages got a spare few days?

 

[Scrooge]

f**k sake lol. Rob if your free on saturday, your more than welcome to pop down my garages and me and a mate will have a look over it, if it's just the waterpump I can pick one up and do it with you as my supplier is only down the road.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Oh Robblols... I think it's time you bought a proper car.

I'm moving house. Until you do .. I'm not telling you where I am.

 

[Tunst]

Oh Robblols... I think it's time you bought a proper car.

I'm moving house. Until you do .. I'm not telling you where I am.

'Like'

 

[Rob]

Right, just drove it a fair distance, no bubbles when I pulled up this time, but the "cold" air coming out of the vents wasn't overly cold, which makes me think the HG is on it's way out, but I'm really not sure at all at the moment... So I'll test the water pump later and after that go to see Mr McDuck about a compression test...

im not really clued up so could be wrong! but when looking through Jord's progress thread it looks like you can,

View attachment 57960

Cheers mate, I'll have to do some research.

To test the water pump I've always taken the cap off and had someone rev the car a little. If the water pump works then coolant should be flowing back into the coolant bottle from the hose on the top.

This, I will do this evening when my housemate is home.

I have a compression tester, so thats not a pronblem mate. Karl is right, we'll only need the locking tools if the head is coming off.

just seen that picture, Where's Jords project thread, that looks like that'll be a good read

Are you certain?? I'll try to see if it's the pump later this evening and report back.

f**k sake lol. Rob if your free on saturday, your more than welcome to pop down my garages and me and a mate will have a look over it, if it's just the waterpump I can pick one up and do it with you as my supplier is only down the road.

Sounds massively tempting, but I've got to be somewhere about 2PM Saturday? Do-able??

Oh Robblols... I think it's time you bought a proper car.

I'm moving house. Until you do .. I'm not telling you where I am.

I think this is too bigger job for even our almighty skills, so fear not! LOL

 

[Joe R26]

lol Rob, hope its the hg? I'd prefer it to be the water pump personally lol cheaper and much less ball ache. When water pumps die they usually leak or make a noise. I can't see doing a hg is a saturday job though, not unless you have done them loads before

 

[Scrooge]

If its the water pump it shouldn't take long tbh Rob and if you got to mine early a compression test and a possible change of the waterpump you'll be back well in time for 2. HG will only be a saturday job if there is two on it and you get a 9/10am start and you have all the correct tools, the only bit that might make it take longer is if it needs skimming.

 

[Rob]

If you're free I'll pop over Saturday morning then? We can assess the damage. If it's waterpump, crack on, if it's HG, I'll drive to FCS, really f**k it up, and then try to fix it another (less busy) weekend

That alright?

On the HG front, I am mechanically capable, just never had to do anything to do with the top end of the engine before, so there would be two of us on it, and I've got a shite load of tools. lol!

 

[Scrooge]

That's fine by me Sir. I'll get my supplier to order your waterpump just incase, if it isn't the problem he can send it back save mucking around.

 

[Rob]

Well as someone suggested earlier, surely I should be able to tell if the water pump is dead by revving the engine with the filler cap open??

Saves you having to mess about ordering it??? Although lately I've had a bit of a weird belt/pulley noise coming from the engine, sort of like a damp belt in winter, could this be the waterpump dying?

 

[Scrooge]

Yep you should but are you going to get under the car to check for water crystals, anitfreeze residue, or play in the pump before saturday? lol

 

[Rob]

OK, ok, order the pump.

LOL

 

[rampantreaper]

Why the hell when any sort of coolant issue comes up does everyone shout headgasket.lol. its not overheating, the heater blows hot and it runs fine! Run it with expansion top off standing and see what happens. Changed many a thermostat after someone else did head first

 

[Gray]

I've never heard of a water pump or HG failing on a F4R................... yet...

 

[Silent_Scone]

water pumps on aux belt so no biggy. Gray, water pump on mine went last year..it's the seal that goes normally if it's not been changed
HG on the other hand is news to me, they don't really go

 

[Scrooge]

Lol glad I have got something car related to do now as my alfa g/box still hasn't arrived dammit!

 

[Scrooge]

Why the hell when any sort of coolant issue comes up does everyone shout headgasket.lol. its not overheating, the heater blows hot and it runs fine! Run it with expansion top off standing and see what happens. Changed many a thermostat after someone else did head first

Ouch

 

[Scrooge]

water pumps on aux belt so no biggy. Gray, water pump on mine went last year..it's the seal that goes normally if it's not been changed
HG on the other hand is news to me, they don't really go

Same here, i've only ever heard of the 1.2s going not the F4R. We sahll see