P38 Getting a bit hot & bothered

Aug 12, 2005 3 Replies

Hi all



Got an unusual problem on my P38 4.6 at the mo. Every so often the temperature gauge climbs right to the top of the normal range. It can happen if I'm doing a steady 40mph or so not really loading the engine, sat still in traffic, or climbing long hills on the motorway at 75mph or so. Other trips it'll never move from the normal running temp.



It seems to have started when one of the pipes that takes the water to the gas vaporiser broke off when we were towing the caravan on the motorway. The temp gauge went straight into the red and the over-heat light came on. Needless to say I got it onto the hard shoulder as soon as possible & got the RAC out.



I've been mooching around under the bonnet and I can't see anything wrong on the outside. It doesn't seem to be using any water, or if it is it very very little. It is using a bit of oil, but I keep putting a drop in now and then. Thing I've noticed is that the alternator is too hot to touch after a short run - is this normal?



Any ideas where I go with this would be gratefully received!



Many thanks



Marcus



P38A 4.6HSE (on gas) SII 2.5D 88-inch


loose liner = new block

too bad

Not necessarily.... there's a company that advertises a cement/ceramic type sealant specifically for the inside of cylinder blocks, they sell the stuff on ebay. I've never used it so can't personally endorse it, but it must be worth a shot before ripping the engine out??? I used a similar product years ago, on an MGB B-series block that had a frost crack along one side, and it actually worked! Important thing is to follow the directions explicitly. If you do go down this route and try it, let us all know how you get on please, Marcus. If I stumble across it, I'll post a link. Badger.

Thanks for the advise - I was hoping for something other than ripping the block out - sounds like hard work to me!!

I'll have a look and let you know how I get on

Cheers

Marcus

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