Hi all,
What should have been a small issue ended with a new head gasket and a struggle to get someone competent to adjust the valve clearance. Anyway, I have worked my way down the list of necessary repairs and less necessary but nevertheless rational maintenance. Now the engine bay contains many new parts.
There is one issue that I have been struggling with and mechanics here do not have the patience to engage with (I am actually shocked at how many of them are not willing or able to look at a 25 year old car). My engine runs slightly too hot according to the temperature meter. The temperature also moves up and down just a few degrees around 90 degrees Celsius which is unrelated to whether the car is moving or not, or the weather conditions). And the heater matrix gurgles when I start the engine from cold. So, I tend to conclude that there is still air in the system, even though I have been putting it on a steep hill and had the engine on and the radiator cap off while pressing the coolant hoses for about 10 minutes. This has led to some improvement, but still the temperature is slightly too high and I suspect an air lock around the radiator, because opening the valve controlling the heater matrix lowers the temperature slightly. Also, the radiator fan does not come on when you expect this according to the temperature meter, even though the sensor is brand new and original. Same goes for the radiator, coolant pump, thermostat (I am on my third one just to be sure), all belts, gaskets, coolant, etc. Radiator fan directly on 12V works like a breeze.
My question therefore is, do you have any suggestions for getting rid of the air lock on my 1995 1.4 i.e.?
Or maybe, is the air lock eplanation not the right one?
What should have been a small issue ended with a new head gasket and a struggle to get someone competent to adjust the valve clearance. Anyway, I have worked my way down the list of necessary repairs and less necessary but nevertheless rational maintenance. Now the engine bay contains many new parts.
There is one issue that I have been struggling with and mechanics here do not have the patience to engage with (I am actually shocked at how many of them are not willing or able to look at a 25 year old car). My engine runs slightly too hot according to the temperature meter. The temperature also moves up and down just a few degrees around 90 degrees Celsius which is unrelated to whether the car is moving or not, or the weather conditions). And the heater matrix gurgles when I start the engine from cold. So, I tend to conclude that there is still air in the system, even though I have been putting it on a steep hill and had the engine on and the radiator cap off while pressing the coolant hoses for about 10 minutes. This has led to some improvement, but still the temperature is slightly too high and I suspect an air lock around the radiator, because opening the valve controlling the heater matrix lowers the temperature slightly. Also, the radiator fan does not come on when you expect this according to the temperature meter, even though the sensor is brand new and original. Same goes for the radiator, coolant pump, thermostat (I am on my third one just to be sure), all belts, gaskets, coolant, etc. Radiator fan directly on 12V works like a breeze.
My question therefore is, do you have any suggestions for getting rid of the air lock on my 1995 1.4 i.e.?
Or maybe, is the air lock eplanation not the right one?
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