Avensis 1998 1.8 Gs

[mabbas25]

hello friends,

my avensis recently started to over heat. these are the symptoms:

water boils/bubbles in tank

fans are working nearly all the time

temp needle stays half way when idle, even though water is boiling/bubbling in tank

temp needle goes up when driving

bottom hose is cold/top is very hot

interior heaters are cold

car drives excellent with no smoking

oil is fine/ no discolouring on cap

i have had thermostat replaced. radiator replaced. my local garage think it is head gasket, could he be correct?

[Loom]

Is your coolant mixture correct?

[Jamesbelfast]

If the garage suspect a leaking head gasket a simple chemical test of the coolant would reveal if it was contaminated with fuel or exhaust gases. On the other hand could it be a duff water pump or an air-lock:)

[t-spiritpete]

hello friends,

my avensis recently started to over heat. these are the symptoms:

water boils/bubbles in tank

fans are working nearly all the time

temp needle stays half way when idle, even though water is boiling/bubbling in tank

temp needle goes up when driving

bottom hose is cold/top is very hot

interior heaters are cold

car drives excellent with no smoking

oil is fine/ no discolouring on cap

i have had thermostat replaced. radiator replaced. my local garage think it is head gasket, could he be correct?

Hi mate, Water does not always get into the oil or oil get into the water, make sure the radiator is not blocked you can do this by carefully feeling for temp all over the core, slightly hotter at the top is normal. After that you need pressure testing tools for the cooling system and a compression tester for the cylinders, water pump etc and it goes on and on so .....

The only 100% test for a blown head gasket is to test for hydrocarbons in the water, this can be done at a garage by using the exhaust gas analyzer probe (normally stuck in the exhaust pipe) held just above the water line in the radiator header tank, if the fumes from the bubbles show any hydrocarbons present then the gasket is gone. This very easy test will only take about 10 minutes so if you have a friendly local garage who will do this for you without charging an £80.00 plus per hour fee then that would be the best course of action.

Regards and good luck .... Pete.

[mabbas25]

thanks for the advice. i will get a mechanic to do this test and let you all know.

[igormus]

hello friends,

my avensis recently started to over heat. these are the symptoms:

water boils/bubbles in tank

fans are working nearly all the time

temp needle stays half way when idle, even though water is boiling/bubbling in tank

temp needle goes up when driving

bottom hose is cold/top is very hot

interior heaters are cold

car drives excellent with no smoking

oil is fine/ no discolouring on cap

i have had thermostat replaced. radiator replaced. my local garage think it is head gasket, could he be correct?

hi mate

have they have an air escaped fron the cooling system??????

this must be a problem subject to the coolant in the expansion tank is clean having no oil traces.

Cheers/Igor

[Q.S.]

hello friends,

my avensis recently started to over heat. these are the symptoms:

water boils/bubbles in tank

fans are working nearly all the time

temp needle stays half way when idle, even though water is boiling/bubbling in tank

temp needle goes up when driving

bottom hose is cold/top is very hot

interior heaters are cold

car drives excellent with no smoking

oil is fine/ no discolouring on cap

i have had thermostat replaced. radiator replaced. my local garage think it is head gasket, could he be correct?

If it's bubbling in the header tank when temp is 'normal', chances are its not boiling but bubbles are gases pushed through from the head gasket.

Quickest and easiest test is like 't-spiritpete' says, use the exhaust gas analyzer and if hydrocarbons go mad, it's the head gasket.