My 98 Escort Gti 1.8 is overheating quite badly, there is no oil in the coolant, no "mayo" in the filler cap and it has a new water pump, what else could it be? or does it all point to head gasket?

 

have you just had the water pump done ?

 

When does it start over heating, at idle, after a run, as soon as you start up?

Is the thermostat good?
Is the fan cutting in?
Is the radiator blocked?
Has a pipe collapsed?
Is the new pump correct for your engine,,,correct rotation?

Could be cracked head or block or blocked waterway.
Failed thermostat.
Blockage somewhere.
Rad sensor faulty.
Fan faulty.

.

 

Yes the water pump has just been done (well less than 500 miles ago) however it was changed as there was very little circulation but the car overheats the same now as it did before it was changed, so that obviously didnt clear it, It has had a new rad and the system was flushed with a hose pipe until the water ran clear.

It overheats on normal driving, If it sits on idle it heats up, the fans cut in and it cools down and the fans cut out.
But if on a run (i.e popped to cardiff from swansea the other day) it sat hotter than normal and when I pulled into the services it took much longer to cool down.

I dont know about the thermostat, will check that later.
New Pump was identical to the old one.
All pipes seem to be fine.

 

sounds like the thermostat is fucked

 

If its a zetec motor get the stat out and get a new one about Ł10 but when you get it out have a look at the housing as they melt inside and it lets the water pass the stat if it has gone you can get the housing from any tat yard there are about 2/3 tipes of them but there on the 1.6 / 1.8 / and 2.0 all so dont forget there on mondeo,s as well

 

Ok, Update, took the thremostat out and put it in a pan of water, sat there and watched it up to the boil and opened as it should the when i turned the heat off, closed down as it should, so am i looking at the headgasket now?

 

did all the housing look good as i did one were it had melted away inside but when the one one was put on it was to late as he had drove down the motor way to get home and the head is now going in the bin

 

Yeah the housing was in great condition, cleaned it all out and tested the stat, then put it all back together, filled it up as slowly as possible to avoid air locks, but still the issue is there, I renewed the coolant as well, but the bit i dont understand is, there is no "mayo" in the filler cap, there was no oil in the old coolant what so ever and I flushed the system when I changed the pump over which showed in the good condition of the coolant that I took out today, the only other thing i can think of is maybe try some of that K-seal stuff as appaerntly it is good for any cracks/leaks in the coolant system. Any thoughts on that? I dont really fancy going down the route of a new headgasket etc as I want to swap a 2.0l in there when I have a bit more saved up in the coming weeks.

 

Ok it is starting to get really annoying now, it is overheating in traffic and on the move, I have replaced the water pump, thermostat and put fresh water/coolant in it. I am not losing water, there is no oil in the water and there is no "mayo" in the filler cap, WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE????

 

crack in the head mate . its time for it to come off