Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I know its not pajero related but i am sure that you guys will have some answers...

The partners proton (runs the evo3 lancer donk) overheated today. I automatically assumed it was either a split or broken hose, radiator leak or waterpump. I filled the radiator back up with water (not coolant), to find the problem but nothing. Drove fine and no issues. However when it got home it needed more water, about 250mL. I thought the worst and thought it may haveblown a head gasket but the oil is as good as new, no signs of water.

My questions are:

How can I tell if its the waterpump?

Or headgasket?

Or could it be something else?



Thanks guys and girls.

Hmmm....must be the season for it, a mates wifes proton blew its gasket last week :( (but that was due to use of a cheap gasket used when at 70k km it snapped the timing belt and bent the valves)

water pump should have the telltale sign of water trickling down the inside of the timing cover, so have a look for drips round the front crank pulley.

If the gasket is blown you might not get any indication of oil contamination as it can leak between a water jacket and a cylinder. start checking for over pressurisation of the cooling system, and soot in the radiator (plus exhaust smell)

If it's fairly bad then you'll also get steam out the exhaust even when it's hot, especially when you give it a rev.
Oh yeah,regular bubbles in the radiator is a bad sign too (make sure it's warm and the heater is on and water topped up to check that)

Most mechanics will have a device to test for the presence of exhaust in the cooling system.

When you rev the engine the level at the rad cap should drop,indicating the pump is circulating.On down flow rads you can also see the water racing accros the core if the level is down from the neck.
With the water up to the neck and the engine hot and idling are there successions of bubbles escaping the rad,?,can be head gasket.
Are the electric fans working?
Is the thermostat opening.
Make sure all the air is bled from the system,fit the cap and squeeze the hoses,does the system hold pressure or does it escape past the rad cap.
Take it to your friendly garage and have a pressure test for leaks.
Often turbo's only leak at the H/G under boost.
J Top

Grant

Could be head/gasket, leak between water jacket and cylinder. Small amounts of oil in the radiator should collect at the top - remove the radiator cap and run your finger around the inside of the hole, looking for greasy deposits on the top surface (follow me? )

Small amounts of water could also be a pin prick in a hose somewhere - only leaking small amounts when the system is pressurised.

I had trouble with a shitty inlet manifold gasket on my Sigma, again leaking only under pressure.

Is your overflow system good? Is it expanding out to the overflow tank and sucking air back?

Good luck,

Scott