Over Heating Problem

[charlie29er]

Hi
I have an LDV 200 diesel van which has just developed an overheating problem.

I actually had the head gasket fixed 1 year ago and the van has been okayish since, I say okayish because I have had to top up the coolent level around once a month, so I guess there may still be a problem.

After a 1 hour motorway journey I noticed the temperature gauge was high and immediatly pulled over, steam was coming from the coolent cap and rising up through the side of the bonnet, after waiting for it to cool there was no coolent left. I topped it up again with some spare coolent and continued the last 5 mins of my journey, by the time I was home the van was again overheating and had used the coolent up again.

Could anyone tell me if this sounds like a blown head gasket or an alternative problem, Im tending to think towards a head gasket problem although the fact that it was done only 1 year ago leaves me with a slight hope it may be a less serious problem

Thanks
Charlie

[richtee]

Hi Charlie. Could well be the Head Gasket gone again. Was it re-tightened after some miles last time? worries me that you have had to top it up regularly. You might have a leak- refill the system and do a pressure test-look for signs of leaks while under pressure. With system full, start engine, look into filler bottle for air bubbles while you blip the engine, or water level rising quickish-either is probably head gasket gone.Signs of whitish foam in camshaft area/oil might indicate same. If no signs,compression test on cylinders next step. Get head/block checked for cracks/level if you go for renewal of HG. Hope this helps.