Running with open coolant system

[Joe]

As my head gasket failure is doing its best to inflate the coolant hoses every time I drive does anyone know if it is possible/sensible to run with the header tank lid cracked open to allow the pressure to escape. I need to drive it about 60 miles to a mates house to fix the headgasket. I know it would be very bad if the coolant temp went above 100 degrees C but in normal running it should hover around the 80 - 90 degrees mark

I guess the trick would to not do the journey at 5pm via any town centre on a very hot day

[ailwyn]

I wouldn't advise it, any coolant that boils over or spills will likely end up on your coils... this would just add to your woes.

Can't you tow it? Push it around the corner and call out the AA? Get your friend to visit you?

[WillB]

Yes, it can be done but is not ideal.

Another way to keep the system 'cool' is to remove the thermostat.

It's a simple job to take out the thermostat.

[theelanman]

Id go with the AA........
I did this with mine once I'd diagnosed it...it never moved....
I just rang the AA (Ive got home start)...they asked what was wrong and I explained that the garage machanic had been up, tested it and that the head gasket had failed.....they just sent the recovery truck.....no questions.......didnt get the man in a van first either......very quick and painless......

how much would it cost to get a man with a low loader/car trans thing???..
the AA start at £39........dont know about the RAC or green flag....which insurance do you have??...sometimes it comes with the policy.....

cheers
Gareth

[Dave Eds]

Is there any way that the fan switching can be by-passed so they are on for the whole journey?

[ailwyn]

Is there any way that the fan switching can be by-passed so they are on for the whole journey?

Just earthing the wire from the fan switch IIRC, however if the pipes are getting pressurised by the exhaust gas then it's still going to force coolant everywhere with the loose cap, or risk bursting a hose if the cap is in place.

[rip]

Sounds like your HG is in a bad way.
Don't think of towing by rope because the towing eye has a weak mount.
If you want to trailer it, I can help out:- I'm not too far away from you & have a towbar on my daily.

[Enright]

Rip's offer sounds by far your best bet Joe.
You could cause a lot more expensive damage to your engine by running it for that long. Imagine if the gasket went completely and left you stranded with an engine full of mayonnaise, or even worse you got a hydraulic lock and a con-rod came through the side.
With help from someone on here you're getting the benefit of people who know how the car SHOULD be treated, and who are doing it because they know that what help goes around, comes around.

[Joe]

Thanks for the replys guys,

I was running it for a while knowing the HG was on its way as its my only transport but monitoring coolant loss very closely to gauge the seriousness of the HG failure and mitigate any risk. As soon as coolant loss reached a level I was uncomfortable with I stopped using it. The car has now been stood unused for over a month.

Looking at the replys and the problem of the car needing a very long run to get to Rugby a nice PM or phone call to Rip looks like the most sensable way ahead. Things have been put on hold for a bit as my professional life has been a little hectic recently.

J.

[Joe]

I've reasearched it carfully and I'm going to drive it. Yep even with a leaky head gasket and only two forward gears the Isuzu lump is able to tough it out if driven with a little care.

As for knowing how my car should be looked after You may be guessing that that one riled me slightly.

Rip, thank you very much for the kind offer of the trailer, its much appreciated had the problems been worse I would be grovelling in your direction

[rip]

Hope you make it without doing further damage.

[Joe]

Rip, Thank you. I really did appreciate the offer of help but the risk assesment came up ok so I chose not to bother you.

The gasket has failed cooling jacket to combustion on no2 cylinder. It cannot fail to oil from there (well its damned unlikely) the only risk is coolant exhaustion leading to overheating leading to head warping and worse. I know how fast the coolant is vanishing and Have rigged a mini CCTV camera to monitor the level in the expansion tank (good contacts) I've got all day and 20 litres of coolant to make the journey and its not going to boil bimbling along in this excuse for a summer so I'm not overly concerned.

Trust me I love that car I would not deliberately destroy it. I have contacts in motorsport who know it all and then some and I was an automotive R&D engineer for 5 years (Transense Technologies). I know how to "mistreat but not kill" a car.

[Doug]

I know how to "mistreat but not kill" a car.

that sums up how most of us drive anyway!

good luck on your journey and let us know how it comes out.

[Joe]

Thanks. I hope I'm right as I'll never live it down if some thing coolant related goes bang on the way.

[Enright]

As for knowing how my car should be looked after You may be guessing that that one riled me slightly.

Joe, re-reading what I put I can see how that might have been taken the wrong way and I apologise for that, but it's not what I meant.
I wasn't having a dig at you - I was referring to Rip trailering your car instead of the AA towing it and potentially tugging your bumper off.
I was also thinking of garages who don't use the jacking points and instead damage sills and the longeron, or try to lift the front of the car to get it onto the ramps because "they know best".
Hope that clarifies things, and sorry for any offence caused.

[Joe]

Absolutely no need to apologise. I was hoping that it was a mis-wording and the raspberry smiley was there to inject a little humour. Now I can see what you meant. I can see how an AA "expert" could do a massive amount of damage to the fragile bits with bad towing or winching technique. We did consider shoving it around the corner and using AA membership to tow it to Rugby but I'm stupidly honest and my conscience got the better of me.

[Nisgaard]

As my head gasket failure is doing its best to inflate the coolant hoses every time I drive does anyone know if it is possible/sensible to run with the header tank lid cracked open to allow the pressure to escape. I need to drive it about 60 miles to a mates house to fix the headgasket. I know it would be very bad if the coolant temp went above 100 degrees C but in normal running it should hover around the 80 - 90 degrees mark

I guess the trick would to not do the journey at 5pm via any town centre on a very hot day

I have a similar problem. My Elan spits coolant from different joints and the hoses seems very high pressurised. However the coolant seems clean and the engine does not run hot... any other explanations than a HGF ?