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MG TD TF 1500 - Running Hot

I spent part of the morning Saturday driving my TF. I noticed it began to run really hot. I stopped and let cool and the water level was low. I put water in and drove a little longer. It ran really nice and cool. But when got home and turn the engine off I noticed steam/smoke coming from the hood. I raised it and there was a liquid that felt and looked like water and antifreez sprayed along the engine and fenders. I could not detect a leak from the radiator itself, it looked like it was come from around the radiator cap. I did have the cap on very tight. does anyone have any input as to why this happened? I thought I would try some of you fellows before I began a journey on my own. My journeys sometime never seem to end.
Thanks for any help
Bud White
S.A. White

Bud
If you filled the Rad when it was warm - any expansion would have come out of the overflow pipe - which should direct it to the bottom of the rad.
If you were driving fast, it could conceivably spray back to the engine and fenders.
Do you have a rubber casket under the rad cap? That will make sure the expansion fluid will go to the overflow pipe.
Check there is no break in the overflow pipe to the bottom of the rad.
If there is no leak in the rad itself. Its the only other place fluid will come out if the hoses are all sound.

Just a thought.
Rod
R D Jones

Rod
Thanks for the reply. That does sound like what I did.
It was warm when I added the water. I was driving at about 50mph on the way home. There was water? on and around the engine and under the hood. I will check the rad cap when I get home.
Thanks alot
Bud
S.A. White

Hi Bud. Sounds very familiar. I ran into that same thing on Lazarus, my TD, on its first real trip after restoration, see http://www.ttalk.info/Tech/Overflow_tank.htm. Turns out that the lower end of the overflow tube is indeed in a low pressure zone that leads to the sides of the bonnet. The other Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud,
Was the water on BOTH sides of the engine? It could also be leaking from the water pump, and then getting 'distributed" by the air pushed by the fan..

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Thanks fellows for the info on the heating problem I had with the TF. I was wandering if the rad cap should be tight. When I let it cool some to add the water the cap was very lose. After I filled it I put the cap back on very tight. Would that have made a difference?
Bud W.
S.A. White

Bud,
On the TF the rad cap should be tight to allow for the pressurized system. I believe it would have to be tight to afford the correct seal. If the cap was loose i.e. not completely closed, liquid coolant would have pushed past it and hence over the engine.
Re the rubber gasket I was referring to? - that was for my TD :) unpressurized. (sorry I misread your post) You have a completely different type of cap.

I think you have solved your problem - good one :)

Regards
Rod.
R D Jones

This thread was discussed between 13/04/2014 and 14/04/2014

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