S40 overheating?

HEICO SPORTIV · Aug 11th, 2012, 22:29

My 2005 2.0D seems to be overheating. The annoying thing is that it's only noticeable intermittently.

The only indication is steam (an alarming amount of it) coming out the grille.
There is no sign of overheating on the temp gauge.

There is no pattern to it. Short trips, long trips, hot weather, cold weather.
I only see it maybe 1 in 10 drives. (at most)
Last time I saw it was after a 10min journey in cold/wet weather conditions.

The car was last serviced August 2011 but the oil and water levels and quality seem fine from what I can tell. I've only covered a tiny amount of miles this last year so I wasn't planning to service it anytime soon.
But this is worrying me.

Any ideas or suggestions? or those who may have had similar issues.
Thanks in advance.

Daim · Aug 12th, 2012, 10:00

Are you sure it is overheating and that it isn't condensation under the bonnet evaporating?

I had my brother's 820Si a few days ago and it was poring with rain. It steamed so massivly from the front, that I thought the engine was overheating. Nothing though...

HEICO SPORTIV · Aug 12th, 2012, 10:30

I guess that's possible, but I've owned the car now for 3.5yrs and only recently have I noticed it.
I've seen it happen on a bright sunny warm day also, when I wouldn't expect any condensation. If it would do it on every journey then I'd be more worried, although I get some strange looks if I pull into a car park and my car is billowing steam from the grille.
Weird.

Daim · Aug 12th, 2012, 10:32

Don't forget, condensation can still occur in a cold night!

Clan · Aug 12th, 2012, 10:33

if it is coolant steaming from a leaky radiator your coolant bottle level will be dropping slowly . is this the case ?

HEICO SPORTIV · Aug 12th, 2012, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daim

Don't forget, condensation can still occur in a cold night!

This is true. I'll just need to keep an eye on it. Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clan

if it is coolant steaming from a leaky radiator your coolant bottle level will be dropping slowly . is this the case ?

Actually, I have noticed some (very minor) leakage under the car. Again, only on certain days.

SonyVaio · Aug 12th, 2012, 10:46

I would certainly be having that looked at.

First thoughts are with waterpump and/or thermostat but if it were waterpump failure I'd expect it to happen all the time and not intermittently.

Thermostat failure could be intermittent and if it were not opening to allow full flow round the engine then this could cause your problem (not doing engine any good though and especially head gasket). You would expect with a thermostat failure that your temp gauge would not just show normal (90 deg within a couple of min driving and staying steady (unless really hot day might go up a couple of deg from the 90 at times)).

Certainly not a problem to just leave.

Daim · Aug 12th, 2012, 10:58

@ Heico

Well, some water under a car with air con is absolutely normal. Poke your finger is it and feel it. If it is only wet, it is condensation from the AC. If it is smeary it will be coolant.

HEICO SPORTIV · Aug 12th, 2012, 11:20

Many thanks for the help and suggestions.

I'm due an MOT next month so I'll see if I can get more investigation done while it's in. I'll keep an eye on it myself also.

Side note: My car doesn't get much use. Having looked at the old MOT's I discovered I've done the following miles since I bough it in Feb 2009.

Feb 2009 (7 months MOT remaining) > Sep 2009 = 4,375 miles covered
Sep 2009 > Sep 2010 = 1,559 miles
Sep 2010 > Sep 2011 = 1,503 miles
Sep 2011 > present day = 1,309 miles

Wonder if I can break my record for the least amount of miles in 1yr with a little over 1 month to go before the next MOT.

HEICO SPORTIV · Aug 12th, 2012, 11:44

...and I've got a ton of 'advisory notice' items from last year's MOT. Deep joy.

01 both rear flasher bulbs badly discoloured
02 n/s/f tyre feathered on inner edge
03 screw in n/s/r tyre thread
04 front brake discs corroded and excessively pitted on inner faces
05 antipollution pipe disconnected at rear
06 rear brake discs corroded
07 nearside registration plate lamp bulb dull

I'll assume the pitted/corroded discs are as a result of my lack of mileage and the car just sitting in my driveway.
I will update this thread if anything is found specifically up with the overheating issue when I ask about that.

Aug 11th, 2012, 22:29	#1
HEICO SPORTIV für das Leben Last Online: Oct 29th, 2016 14:50 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Edinburgh	S40 overheating? My 2005 2.0D seems to be overheating. The annoying thing is that it's only noticeable intermittently. The only indication is steam (an alarming amount of it) coming out the grille. There is no sign of overheating on the temp gauge. There is no pattern to it. Short trips, long trips, hot weather, cold weather. I only see it maybe 1 in 10 drives. (at most) Last time I saw it was after a 10min journey in cold/wet weather conditions. The car was last serviced August 2011 but the oil and water levels and quality seem fine from what I can tell. I've only covered a tiny amount of miles this last year so I wasn't planning to service it anytime soon. But this is worrying me. Any ideas or suggestions? or those who may have had similar issues. Thanks in advance.

Aug 12th, 2012, 10:00	#2
Daim Brit in Germany Last Online: Yesterday 06:58 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bremen	Are you sure it is overheating and that it isn't condensation under the bonnet evaporating? I had my brother's 820Si a few days ago and it was poring with rain. It steamed so massivly from the front, that I thought the engine was overheating. Nothing though... __________________ The Best Nation Is Imagination 2010 V70 (Type 135) D5 (D5244T10) Automatic (TF-80SC)

Aug 12th, 2012, 10:32	#4
Daim Brit in Germany Last Online: Yesterday 06:58 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bremen	Don't forget, condensation can still occur in a cold night! __________________ The Best Nation Is Imagination 2010 V70 (Type 135) D5 (D5244T10) Automatic (TF-80SC)

Aug 12th, 2012, 10:33	#5
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Today 16:01 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	if it is coolant steaming from a leaky radiator your coolant bottle level will be dropping slowly . is this the case ? __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Aug 12th, 2012, 10:58	#8
Daim Brit in Germany Last Online: Yesterday 06:58 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bremen	@ Heico Well, some water under a car with air con is absolutely normal. Poke your finger is it and feel it. If it is only wet, it is condensation from the AC. If it is smeary it will be coolant. __________________ The Best Nation Is Imagination 2010 V70 (Type 135) D5 (D5244T10) Automatic (TF-80SC)

Aug 12th, 2012, 10:30	#3
HEICO SPORTIV für das Leben Last Online: Oct 29th, 2016 14:50 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Edinburgh	I guess that's possible, but I've owned the car now for 3.5yrs and only recently have I noticed it. I've seen it happen on a bright sunny warm day also, when I wouldn't expect any condensation. If it would do it on every journey then I'd be more worried, although I get some strange looks if I pull into a car park and my car is billowing steam from the grille. Weird.

Aug 12th, 2012, 10:46	#7
SonyVaio VOC Member Last Online: Feb 26th, 2016 19:58 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Exmouth	I would certainly be having that looked at. First thoughts are with waterpump and/or thermostat but if it were waterpump failure I'd expect it to happen all the time and not intermittently. Thermostat failure could be intermittent and if it were not opening to allow full flow round the engine then this could cause your problem (not doing engine any good though and especially head gasket). You would expect with a thermostat failure that your temp gauge would not just show normal (90 deg within a couple of min driving and staying steady (unless really hot day might go up a couple of deg from the 90 at times)). Certainly not a problem to just leave.

Aug 12th, 2012, 11:20	#9
HEICO SPORTIV für das Leben Last Online: Oct 29th, 2016 14:50 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Edinburgh	Many thanks for the help and suggestions. I'm due an MOT next month so I'll see if I can get more investigation done while it's in. I'll keep an eye on it myself also. Side note: My car doesn't get much use. Having looked at the old MOT's I discovered I've done the following miles since I bough it in Feb 2009. Feb 2009 (7 months MOT remaining) > Sep 2009 = 4,375 miles covered Sep 2009 > Sep 2010 = 1,559 miles Sep 2010 > Sep 2011 = 1,503 miles Sep 2011 > present day = 1,309 miles Wonder if I can break my record for the least amount of miles in 1yr with a little over 1 month to go before the next MOT.

Aug 12th, 2012, 11:44	#10
HEICO SPORTIV für das Leben Last Online: Oct 29th, 2016 14:50 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Edinburgh	...and I've got a ton of 'advisory notice' items from last year's MOT. Deep joy. 01 both rear flasher bulbs badly discoloured 02 n/s/f tyre feathered on inner edge 03 screw in n/s/r tyre thread 04 front brake discs corroded and excessively pitted on inner faces 05 antipollution pipe disconnected at rear 06 rear brake discs corroded 07 nearside registration plate lamp bulb dull I'll assume the pitted/corroded discs are as a result of my lack of mileage and the car just sitting in my driveway. I will update this thread if anything is found specifically up with the overheating issue when I ask about that.

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