Coolant System Problem

[tractive-effort]

The fan seems ok - firmish resistance with the engine stopped at cold temperature. I'm not trying the engine running test though as i value my fingers too much

I deliberated on weather to change the water pump myself and have decided not too. As I live out in the sticks, I'm too far away from any motor factors/mechanics if things go pear-shaped. So, a Ford mechanic friend is going to have a good look at it on Thursday. I will though flush out the heater matrix (though in situ) and back flush the radiator just in case. Many thanks for your help anyway Mr. M

[tractive-effort]

I flushed out all the system - radiator totally off and is now bubbling away full of caustic soda solution . It was not blocked though in any way, so the heavy duty cleaning is just a secondary precaution.

The heater matrix was a different kettle of fish though. I was intending to take it out totally and give it a similar dose of caustic, but the pipes on the bulkhead held firm. Nevermind, I took the rubber pipe off the side of the metal hose that goes into the water pump and back flushed it through from the pipe on the front of the cylinder block. No problem, plenty of flow coming through the other end!

Doing it from t'other way was a different story. At first it was nothing more than a trickle, but putting the cap back on the header tank and putting the jet hose at full blast finally produced a good flow from the other side. Strange though, no gunge or sludge came out from either end, but there was definately a partial blockage at the very minimum! Perhaps an airlock?? No idea whether this will solve it though, as I will test drive it tomorrow..

[tractive-effort]

It's typical isn't it - you buy something with a damn good body for an almost 9 year old Transit and the engine turns out to be a cabbage!! Today I noticed a slight leak from the front of the cylinder head, so it has to be the bloody gasket I suspect. But on a van with 98,000 (or soI genuinely thought anyway....oh well, it's gonna be an expensive week me thinks )

[MarkM]

Ok well at least you will know all the rest is flow free when you get it done...the flushing out I assume showed this leak....high temps etc had to prove a leak somewhere...to be honest I would think about doing the water pump (minimal cost in the grand scheme of things) after all the rad is out so you have plenty of room to get at it and better to do it now rather than have it fail in a few thousand miles and you have all the grief then.

[madmark]

the waterpump shouldnt be a problem to do if you have a new geasket as well, if you have most of the front out its not a bad job and nothing should go wrong!
also i have had transits that the temp gauge goes up and down but its the dash not the engine sometimes if you put the lights on the gauge goes up more! as for water rising in the header tank this will happen if you leave it ticking over for a wile as the water gets hot it then builds up the preshure if a thermostat is fitted but i dont think it will do it if there isnt one fitted!

[AndyG]

Can the water pump be changed without "touching" the cam belt then

[MrMPuk]

Yep, comes off without touching the belt.

[tractive-effort]

The water pump is the least of my worries though - something now tells me that given the nature of the erratic temperature readings it is most likely a cracked cylinder head. I just cannot believe that it would do this at less than 100,000 miles. Are cylinder heads/gaskets a common problem with the Di engine?? If it were aluminium I could understand, but a cast iron block..

My previous vehicle was a MK4 Escort van with the 1.8 diesel in it that I had from new (1990) and I sold that with 298,000 miles on her. I only ever put ancilliary items on it (starter, alternators etc) and in all that time the engine never gave any problems. It even had the original clutch plate in it!! Sorry, but if this is how Transit's are, then it goes on Ebay and I'll chalk one up to experience....