Sooooo, head gasket or duff radiator cap?

[Beeper 81]

I had the car running a week or three ago, as I mentioned in a thread somewhere. Yesterday I had it running and the temp gauge didn't work. I then discovered that the rad was empty, or as near as dammit! After putting it back in the lockup there was a nice puddle of water on the floor, under the overflow pipe. Today, I go and fill up the rad, leave the cap off and fire it up. Whilst ticking over the water level started to come up into the neck of the rad and trickle into the overflow pipe. I rev the engine, the water goes down a bit, as expected but, no bubbles in the water. I refit the cap and wait for the temp gauge to start working, then I look in the engine bay and water is coming out of the overflow pipe again. I rev it and it stops, then it comes back on tickover. The exhaust is a little steamy with some water splattering out but not steamy like the Flying Scotsman or the Queen Mary! I'm putting this down to the cool weather at the moment, fingers crossed. So what do we reckon? Gasket or cap?

[sheffieldcortinacentre 741]

Exhaust is probably condensation, a new cap is peanuts & seconds to fit /try.

After that a compression tester is cheap & simple to use.

You could buy a water system pressure tester  or make one from an old rad cap.

 

Drill a hole in the centre of cap ,remove innards fit a tyre valve in hole fit cap then use your tyre pump to put about 15psi in system.

The pressure should remain constant. If it starts to drop look/listen for water/air leaking somewhere.

[Beeper 81]

Thanks for that Craig. Won't I have to block off the overflow pipe as well?

[sheffieldcortinacentre 741]

Possibly  depending on cap.

[TimB 94]

It might just have an air lock somewhere in the system e.g the heater is empty. Before doing anything drastic I'd keep running it up for short periods, feel the hoses to make sure it is all warm and circulating, turn off, let it cool. Take off cap top up if needed then repeat, repeat, repeat.

I'm not aware of cortinas having cooling system bleed points, so doing this may flush out any air lock (if that's the problem). Good luck

[J2S 158]

Jack car up from front and leave cap off

Get running heaters on full warm ISH water to top up once warm,give bottom pipe a good squeeze every  now and then

 

 

Edited March 27 by J2S

[sheffieldcortinacentre 741]

Heater control doesn't effect flow on cortinas.

Remove top heater hose when filling to bleed air ( it's highest point in system.

[John Mack 329]

Some good advice above, I've always filled the system with front raised and taken out the coolant sender before filling and then refitted when I know there's water up to it just for peace of mind knowing that the gauge "should" work !

[sierra3dr 53]

Is the viscous fan working? If the thermostat doesn't have a bleed valve,drill a 2mm hole in it

[Beeper 81]

They didn't have viscous fans in 1975. I have a video or two IF and when they finish transfering by clockwork bluetooth!

Edited March 29 by Beeper

[Beeper 81]

 

Right, update and not a happy one. I bought a new radiator cap, for anybody in the North West there's a little shop in Old Swan, just outside of Liverpool called 'MOTORNEEDS' specialising in parts for older cars. He's a nice guy, regardless of some of the negative feedback on Google maps. After I paid for my new rad cap he said, I've got a book for you, and produces a Ford Cortina mk3 Owners Handbook. OK, it's for a pre facelift but it was free so no complaints here. Back to my dilemma.

So, 1/ Where did the water go? 2/ My finger is OK, it was only washing the dishes hot. 3/ Now I have silt and bubbles WTF is wrong now??? The rad had a new core fitted around about the time it went into the lockup for hibernation, back in September 2014 after its' last MOT pass! Hoses fitted with the rad.The bottom one crunches when I squeeze it!....If I had any hair left, I'd be pulling it out now, oh and I can't flush it out 'cos it's about 2 miles away from my house and my hosepipe won't reach!

Oh, I missed it overflowing with the cap on as well.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Edited April 5 by Beeper

[Beeper 81]

I think I may need to do the tappets!

[sierra3dr 53]

is it just water that is in the system?

[Beeper 81]

At the moment yes. Over the winter it had antifreeze in it and I didn't run it, except maybe once or twice when it would fire up without melting the positive lead to the knackered starter, but not long enough to get it up to temp properly.

[TimB 94]

If you put the pressure cap on for longer, run it, does it warm up? 
There looks like there is quite a bit of rusty looking sediment in there, flush it out maybe.

Does the water warm up when running with cap off?

Just looking for more clues to make a suggestion.