Tarago Overheating

[craigie5]

Hi Everyone,

Just joined up today andI an asking for help already. The 1998 TCR 10 tarago started overheating, so I worked out that it was the waster pump.

I have replaced the water pump, including the inlet housing and new thermostat housing, new thermostat and seal. I have flushed the system and checked all the hoses and fittings.

The radiator is only 3 years old and the thermos fans are working correctly. 

I suspected head gasket due to the smoke colour from  the exhaust. Due to the engine laying on its side, I am trying to avoid new head gasket job. I have now run Risone head gasket fix in the system and have noticed drops of coolant coming from the tail end of the exhaust manifold.

The bottle is fairly new and a new radiator cap. 

The coolant is still flowing from the overflow tube on the bottle after about 10 min idle and still boiling in the bottle.

Again I thought head gasket, but the oil is still ok and no creaminess residue in the cap.

This has got me stuffed now.

If anyone can offer ideas to help. I would greatly appreciate it.

Cheers

[campbeam]

45 minutes ago, craigie5 said:

Again I thought head gasket, but the oil is still ok and no creaminess residue in the cap.

My previous experience with a 1994 Honda Accord indicates that it would highly likely to be a head gasket leak.

In my case, the overflow bottle would sometimes become empty. All appeared to be ok then it would repeat a few weeks later. Radiator cap was also replaced. Checked the engine oil, no obvious coolant contamination.  I also used the Risone head gasket fix; not wanting to replace the head gasket. Water pump previously had a minor leak which got worse after using the Risone product.

End result was an overheated engine, cracked cylinder head and car disposed of for scrap.

Suggest that you plan upon having to do a head gasket replacement.

[trentmeyer23]

Did it start out of the blue or was it after some form of maintenance?

Have the cooling system pressure tested before jumping to any conclusions. A cylinder leakdown test is also worthwhile(as painful as it is to do on a van).

[craigie5]

I have a compression testing gauge, I might start with that even though the seat has to come out and the cover. I have repaired head gaskets on other cars before but the way the engine is set up and from an access point of view, I am trying to avoid the saga and the swearing. Thanks for the advise, i'll see how I go because I want to keep the Tarago van, its been a great car to us.

[Davo446611]

We had this problem with our 2002 AERAS; fitted a Camry motor,(Straight swap), no further problems.
It seems to be a common problem.