Overheating

[balatty]

To cut a long and very expensive story short! My Bongo overheated several months ago, I pulled in, it cooled down and drove home with no probs. took it to my mechanic who said it might be a sticky thermostat. Drove ok for a few weeks then overheated again. stopped, cooled down, drove 500 yards then did it again. This time it wouldn't start for half an hour or so. I had hep to tow it enroute when it started. I drove 5 miles to work temp ok. Drove to mechanic next morning, big time overheating (lots of gurgling and banging). New head, head gasket, timing belt. Mechanic tested it, worse than before. Bongo Bits suggested the pattern gasket may not be thick enough. Genuine Ford Ranger gasket put in, everything fine. I have put several thousand miles on it since then with no trouble. Passed MOT on Thursday With no work done other than cleaning the underside wih powerhose. Yippee! Yesterda drove 3 miles, overheating again. Lots of coolant from header tank, which I dont remember happening the last time. Cooled down drove quarter of mile home. Filled header tank and let it tick over. Fan working, did not overheat. Pipes in and out of header tank hot but no heat in tank. Anyone any suggestions, I cant afford another head. Please help before my head gasket explodes.

[Aethelric]

To cut a long and very expensive story short! My Bongo overheated several months ago, I pulled in, it cooled down and drove home with no probs. took it to my mechanic who said it might be a sticky thermostat. Drove ok for a few weeks then overheated again. stopped, cooled down, drove 500 yards then did it again. This time it wouldn't start for half an hour or so. I had hep to tow it enroute when it started. I drove 5 miles to work temp ok. Drove to mechanic next morning, big time overheating (lots of gurgling and banging). New head, head gasket, timing belt. Mechanic tested it, worse than before. Bongo Bits suggested the pattern gasket may not be thick enough. Genuine Ford Ranger gasket put in, everything fine. I have put several thousand miles on it since then with no trouble. Passed MOT on Thursday With no work done other than cleaning the underside wih powerhose. Yippee! Yesterda drove 3 miles, overheating again. Lots of coolant from header tank, which I dont remember happening the last time. Cooled down drove quarter of mile home. Filled header tank and let it tick over. Fan working, did not overheat. Pipes in and out of header tank hot but no heat in tank. Anyone any suggestions, I cant afford another head. Please help before my head gasket explodes.

Very strange, I can't see how you can have hot pipes in and out of the header tank and a cold header tank unless you have no coolant in the tank?

Dave

[balatty]

Header tank is warm but not nearly as hot as the pipes. Had just topped up the header.

[Peg leg Pete]

Have you had your radiator checked, could be full of crud