Explosion of coolant running on the highway

I am finding it hard to understand your post Theodore, but I would suggest you fill your cooling system with water and pressure test the cooling system.

Check for any leaks and go from there mate. It sounds like you may have blown a hose.

 

a pressure tester will reveal the problem immediately without putting your engine in danger.

 

Dear Ferraristi,

If there was coolant everywhere, perhaps a coolant line let go. I doubt the expansion tank cap blew off. Even if it did release coolant, it would be through the overflow line and away from the engine.

If you can't see a blown line, buy or get a pressure tester from a friend. It could be as simple as a loose clamp and a pushed off hose.

If you refilled and you have a high temp with noise, you have air trapped in system. I have no idea how a 400i works, but my 91 Testarossa has 3 bleed screws. My "later" Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster self bleeds while an early Diablo has to be bled carefully or the temps will go up.

Let us know what you find and report back.


Shamile

Freeze...Miami Vice!

 

Very good. Glad to hear you are enjoying this Ferrari community. It is the BEST!

 

That is an overflow for the overflow bottle.

I think you have a faulty radiator cap. Under pressure, the coolant pushed past the radiator cap into the overflow bottle.

The overflow bottle was overfilled.......................so it dumped the coolant onto the ground via the overflow hose.

Check your radiator cap mate. You can also test them with a coolant pressure tester.

 

Cool man, let us know how you get along.

 

Good to have you here in translation...we all speak Ferrari!

 

Probably be good to bleed the system for air, now that you have the cap sorted out, make sure you have any air pockets out of the system.

 

Just be careful going to 1.0bar when the system is designed for 0.7 bar particularly when the system is old.

You may bring up other problems like blown hoses or popped radiators. I would have suggested replacing with the standard 0.7 bar rather than 1.0 bar

 

Not a problem mate, thanks for letting us know.

 

Theo, if your engine still overheats, after using the new 0.7bar cap, is it most likely the thermostat. And that is a very easy fix!
If the waterpump dies on the 400 it has a failsafe seal that will drop the coolant out of a waterhole so it will not contaminate the oil. Replacing the waterpump means that the engine has to come out of the car!

 

Theo,

If your expansion tank is full of rust, you should definitely have the radiator checked. Rust floating in the system can easily clog up the tubes in the radiator, and limit the flow of coolant, which could also be contributing to an overheating situation. Definitely change the thermostat if that has not been done recently, and flush the entire system out to get any loose rust out. Have the radiator flushed, and if possible, have a repair shop look at the core with a scope and see if it is clogged or corroded. If it is, have it recored. And while you are at it, change all the coolant hoses if they are old (and especially if they are original). Oh, and make sure that you refill with a 50/50 mix of good quality anti-freeze and distilled water, plus a bottle of Red Line Water Wetter if you can get that over there.

See, isn't this fun?

 

Theo..On your coolant dumping..As to the water pump on these engines..the water fump usually does not fail..it is only the front-most seal on the pump that fails. It is very well shown in the coolant section of the workshop manual...it is very easily replaced with a common kit known to Fcar parts suppliers at approximately $100USD..I carry one in my 1980 400i at all times along with a photocopy of that page from the manual..it is very easily accessed from under the car (on a lift) ..30 minutes to one hour's time..I did mine myself ten years ago..Now..as to the thermostat..since it is an in-line bottle type, you can easily do this job all by yourself in about the same amount of time from the top of engine..replace all three water hoses at the same time with heavy-duty hose from any reputable shop that carries Gates Hose or a reputable brand in Europe..fortunately, our water hoses are all straight pieces available to be cut in exactly to the lengths required (3 sizes)..Also..Dave Helms of Scuderia Rampante on this forum has the best hoses on the planet and he says that they will "probably" last past your grand children..also buy all new hose clamps..take the thermostat into your kitchen and boil it in a pot with a thermometer in the pot..if it opens within <>5 degrees it it probably still good..if you need a new one, PM me and I will give you a very reasonably priced source..I hope that this is of some help to you, and perhaps I may see you and your car when I return to France again later this year..Jacques.

 

Small addition: If the seal fails, it could be caused by one or both bearings in the waterpump. If the bearings are noisy or the small axle can be moved up or down a bit, you have to rebuild the pump. And that means that you'l have to take the engine out. But if the coolant loss was not at the pump it could be either the thermostat or a blocked flow or a bad radiator. The waterpumps normally will not give you any troubles

 

You can have your expansion tank cleaned. You said that the radiator area was making noise. I would follow a system of checks. 1 radiator cap,replace if faulty, if still leaking water and running hot 2. Belts driving water pump is it tight enough and working correctly if ok and still hot 3. thermostat remove it and test if it operates then 4. pressure test the system if no leaks then 5 bleed system refill and check temperature if still overheating check waterpump for noise and if need be remove and rebuild.
In my experience radiator caps usually do not simply fail they generally wear out slowly. Whatever you do watch your temps carfully until you discover the cause of the problem.I would also check your oil for any sign of water ie a white glug on the top of the dip stick.

 

The water pump on the colombo quad cam is not driven by any belt. It is chain driven. To remove the pump the chain as to come off and that means dropping the sump. And that can only be done if the engine is lifted out.

Theo : You said that the radiator was noisy. Could not that be water pump bearings or maybe just the propellor came loose?