Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Guys

I bought another Vit on the weekend and the guy I bought it off says he had a mechanic look at becasue it was overheating, the mechanic told him "it needs a new head these are known for it" now my issue is it starts fine, runs fine, it will idle for 10 mins and not get hot, but if you take it for a drive it gets hot after about 5 mins. Now when I say hot, I didnt drive it till it boiled, just got to 3/4 so I stopped and let it cool down.

I have not heard of heads just "going" on a Zook, it hold coolant, so it is not leaking, the Radiator was serviced by Natrad about 6 years ago, so I gueass that would be fine.

I am going to start pulling the coolant system down this week and I am looking for ideas as to what it could be.

Thanks

screwed thermostat???

The heads do just let go, I recall something about pourus castings on early 16V heads that was later resolved (the pro's on here should be able to confirm).

Mine cracked across 2 and 4 between the valve's and went from fine to terrible on a single trip, but if you've not got oil in the water or vice-versa you are probably Ok.

However 6 years is a long time between cooling system services ,esp. if it has been used off-road/in mud and gotten the fins all blocked. Check the thermostat otherwise send the radiator in for a rod-out and external clean, it is still cheaper than cooked engine.

First place I would look would be the radiator.
6 years is a long time for abuse to get hold of a radiator.

go get a $30 temp gauge and put that on it and see what its really doing.

cheap insurance, it could be fine... stock temp gauges suck.

So I have flushed the radiator, flushed the motor, checked the thermostat. Water pump works fine

Still nothing, I think the head will come off next unless anyone has any ideas

Start with the thermostat, next give the radiator a flush.

I don't know about your particular model, but I would take the initial advise with a pinch of salt.

EDIT, slow typing and easily distracted

when you say "flushed the radiator" how did you do it? to me, if you are chasing a cooling problem, anything short of having the tank removed and the core rodded out is not a clean.
however, my vit powered maruti ( 1.6 rad.) has always run cool but 2 nights ago when i held it on full throttle for a while it came up over the half. turned out the thermostat was only opening about 3mm. enough to keep it cool most of the time but not enough when the engine was working hard

Yea didnt strip the radiator down, just reverse flushed it and it seems to flow nicely. I might take it to a radiator shop to have cooling system checked.

Then off comes the head to get serviced

dude, don't take the head off unless you know whats wrong with it. if its not loosing water or blowing bubbles through the radiator there is nothing wrong with the head. get the radiator done, then try it without a thermostat. if it is still getting warm, then have a closer look at the more expensive items

Some Vits come with a twin skin downpipe off the exhaust manifold. These are notorious for collapsing internally and partially blocking the exhaust, causing overheating, and eventually a cracked head.

Solution is to replace with extractors.

Ben

WoooHooo,
Pulled the radiator out of my Vit and put it in the new one and it is fine.
Took the other Radiator to a shop and they took the tank off
all but four cores were blocked
It has a sticker on it saying it was serviced by Natrad in 2003, not very well I guess.

Anyway, new radiator and we are away, got myself a bargain

Congrats mate!

Onya!