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 Posted: Apr 24, 2018 03:32PM
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+1 for Malcom. The vehicle is not a Mini. Cheers, Derwood.

 Posted: Apr 24, 2018 01:44PM
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TTF64.. I have always drilled couple holes in my thermostats in my minis.. to prevent this.. I have ran without one. BUT waters flows too quick and overheats .. later bc

 Posted: Apr 23, 2018 12:20PM
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Just heard from the shop. It's a stuck thermostat. Thank goodness that's all it is.

 Posted: Apr 23, 2018 10:20AM
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Dan, not a Mini it's a 2003 Explorer.

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Apr 22, 2018 12:16PM
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CA
When checking hoses, don't forget the tiny by-pass hose ... if your engine has one... from the water pump to the underside of the head.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Apr 21, 2018 12:26PM
 Edited:  Apr 21, 2018 12:28PM
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TTF... check all hoses and see if one SPLIT.. ?/ this has happened to me TWICE on my old pathfinder. gauge did NOT even read HOT.. just shut off.. but lucky for me . I did NOT have replace the headgasket either time.. One time the rad exploded. same thing.. did NOT read hot.. fyi. the reason I have NOT sold it.. I use it locally for towing minis and mokes. and has a STELLA radio...

 Posted: Apr 21, 2018 08:40AM
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Sorry I dictated that message and forgot to mention that it was not my mini it was my 2003 Explorer. I don't really think about the water pump though. Sorry I'm on my way out but I'll go through these messages again and try to follow dams instructions. Thanks

 Posted: Apr 21, 2018 08:22AM
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US
The only Mini thermostats that I've worked on that had failed all failed closed.

 Posted: Apr 21, 2018 07:06AM
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CA
Thermostats are 'supposed' to fail in the open state, in which case your operating temperature would be low.

With the engine cold, look in the top of the rad to see the condition of the coolant - does it look normal, cloudy/milky or does it have an oily residue on top?

With the coolant topped up, leaving an air space in the top of the rad and the rad cap off, start the engine and let it warm up. As it does, keep feeling the top rad hose temperature. It should stay cool until the thermostat begins to open, when the hose should warm up as the flow begins. If it warms very gradually, then the thermostat probably has failed open.

Continuing with the warm-up with the rad cap off, once the thermostat is open and the top hose warm, look down into the rad at the coolant. You may be able to see the flow across the top away from the top rad hose. The idle vibrations may cause ripples on the surface making flow hard to see, so adjust the rpm to smooth out the vibrations if you can. If you rev up the engine a little (say 2000 rpm), the water pump should push enough coolant into the engine so that you see increased flow across the top of the rad. That should be a rough indication of whether your water pump is functioning.

As the engine heats up, watch for bubbles in the top of the rad - it may be steam or it may be exhaust leaked into the cooling system. 

Several years ago I had a similar problem - about 2 miles from home on a hot summer day, I noticed a gradual loss in power, which made me look at the instruments. Overheating! I pulled into a parking lot under a tiny shade tree and determined my coolant was gone. The paint on the cylinder head looked blacker than its former faded red. I called my wife who rope-towed me the rest of the way home. Fearing the worst, I thought I'd cooked the engine, but after letting it cool, I discovered that the new top rad hose had settled in and its clamps just needed tightening. Since I had let the engine cool slowly, it suffered no ill effects - power, compression etc. are still fine.

So your trouble may be something as simple as loose clamps or another leak, or the thermostat.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Apr 21, 2018 06:57AM
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TTF.. might be some thing as simple as an air bubble .. do you drive with your heat on ALL year?? I do to prevent this.. stick water hose in rad. and blow it out.. later bc

 Posted: Apr 21, 2018 05:15AM
 Edited:  Apr 21, 2018 05:17AM
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I'm driving along yesterday and all the sudden the gauge goes to hot, on my way home. When I got there I noticed that the Overflow jar was low on coolant so I put some coolant and water in after letting it cool down. I took it on another drive and got about two miles and the gauge just kept going up so I turned around having to stop once to let it cool down as it spit coolant at me. I got it home and just parked it. I'm having it towed in over the weekend or Monday morning but would like to give the guy a place to start. Ideas?? Could it be a head gasket?? I wish I could be something easy like a thermostat . Thanks