Hi folks, bit of advice needed...

Decided to run into work in Suzi my 1.3 Suzuki Samurai with a few off road mods. Drove in fine this morning and she was sat in the carpark for 9 hours (its usually garaged). Covered in snow but all scraped off before setting off.

Anyway, crazy queues on sliproad up to my motorway junction roundabout so was sat idling for 30-45 mins if not more. First noticed that heater wasn't blowing hot air. Then looked at temp guage and it was right up at the top, and my electric fan had kicked in. Anyway, the usual "god why now!!" thoughts and "did I think I was being clever using a 20 year old plus vehicle in bad weather just for the 4x4 smugness"

Anyway survived the queue, by switching off my engine trying to let her cool. Also got out and topped up the expansion tank with water.

Anyway eventually got on motorway and still the needle kept wavering up at the hot end even at 40-45mph. The heater blew hot air for a few moments here and there, and the needle did every now and then drift back to normal levels, only to creep back up on inclines.

About 5 mins from home there was a huge hissing sound for a few seconds (thought I'd had a flat!) and the temp gauge quickly dropped back to normal level, only to creep back up when engine under load driving the last mile or so on streets to my house. When I stopped there was quite a bit of steam under the bonnet.

Let it all cool and checked my rad level, and I can't see nay fluid in there. I took the rad cap off under a week ago and there was definitely up to the top then.

One thing I should mention is I've been topping up the expansion tank level with plain water for ages, but I've never topped up the radiator so dunno how much antifreeze mix was in there. Also the radiator is pretty clogged up with mud aloing the bottom.

So what do you guys reckon, thermostat bust? Something frozen? Why did the heater stop working? And where's all that rad fluid gone, there is no sign of any burst off pipes, rad looks pretty dry around all the pipes.

Never had any issues like this with it, and just happens now when I want to use her a lot more!!

I'm not gonna use her before I know whats what but am going to top up radiator with anti-freeze when I get time, maybe let her idle again see if she does it again.

Thoughts/advice?

Frozen coolant! You could easily crack a block that way! It could also be a blocked radiator air intake was it packed with snow? The later would be the most pleasant option.

Frozen coolant! You could easily crack a block that way! It could also be a blocked radiator air intake was it packed with snow? The later would be the most pleasant option.

No the radiator was as exposed as usual, not blocked with snow.

Erm, what are signs/symptoms of a cracked block?! I've been out and about in it in cold weather before in the snow just before christmas, but maybe its usually just that bit warmer and sheltered in the garage?

Check if your blocks core plugs are still there.

The silver bits.

Check if your blocks core plugs are still there.

The silver bits.

Guys on my 4x4 forum have said same, sounds likely -something definitely blew!

If it is this am I likely to have damaged anything else?

It is important to keep the correct level of anti freeze in the cooling system. If you just add water, it becomes diluted and will freeze at a lower temperature, Sometimes just the pipes blow off or the radiator is damaged. The main concern is that the engine block has not cracked. the guys here suggest that you look at the core plugs to see if they have blown sometimes that may save an engine if it is not too cold. the worst case scenario is that the block has been cracked by the expansion of water when it freeze.

I hope that your lucky and that it will just be put down to experience but if the block is cracked then their is very little hope and normally the engine is scrap. Very occasionally specialist welders might weld the block if it is not overly damaged but usually that is the end!

Sorry!

You might have been lucky and found that the coolant caused a pressure build up such that the pressure cap on the expansion top let the coolant out.

Otherwise check the pies, the radiator itself and see what you find.

Worth flushing warm water through the radiator to see if you get flow through that, then buying a suitable amount of the correct anti-freeze for your car and filling the system up with this.

Hopefully you've had a lucky escape.

Thanks, am gonna check for leaks from a core plug -I'm sure that the hissing noise I heard was more than just the expansion cap popping off.

Oh well at the end of day it is just my fun car, and engine swaps are pretty common in Zukes, just a shame I can't do any work myself. I have learnt now that any second hand car I get I will be changing the coolant so I know it has enough antifreeze in it!