Hi guys.

On my focus i had the oil cooler changed in December. I have noticed a small amount oil in my coolant, I got told to try steel seal.

I drained off the old water out rad Valve and flushed it with cold water from the expansion tank and let it drain out rad valve. 

The car not been started up during this process as steel seal needs engine cold.

I put steel seal in first, then followed by just under litre blue antifreeze so just barely see it in expansion tank, i left expansion cap off and started the engine as I know after coolant change air has to be be removed.

Then after started engine up and gets warm I literally had like a water fountain out top expansion tank it's gone everywhere a white mess and overheating to 102f, i switched it off. 

why did this happen guys please any help me I've changed anti freeze before and never had this happen.

thanks guys

Last night I tried water only as I lost all my coolant over top.

I put water in started car up with little bubbles and then u could feel the expansion pipe from the tank to car start to rumble and pipe was hot and engine the temperature from 40c go up to 99c. Then pipe rumble got worse and a explosion out top expansion tank again. 

Any ideas guys thanks

1 litre of water is nowhere near enough to fill the system.  There would have been a huge airlock in the pipes below that.  As the air expands, it pushes the coolant out of the reservoir.  Do you know roughly how much you drained?  I'd be expecting something like 5 litres in the full system.

The complete cooling system contains approximately 8 to 9 Litres of coolant. However approximately 50% of the coolant remains in the heater matrix and hoses when draining the cooling system.

Another point of concern is that this cooling system requires vacuum filling to prevent air in the cooling system.

 

Sorry to go way off OP…. A friend sent me this photo of his expansion tank , looks like a lot of oil in there , I’ll attach the pick. It’s a Peugeot. Any opinions appreciated 

Hi guys.

I thought may been air look I drained the system and re filled it with just water for an test. The water keeps bubbling and at first look the little return pipe wasn't getting hot, this little pipe goes from above right headlight maybe from I'm not sure a water sensor or thermostat to expansion tank.

Then after idle for 20 mins all pipes was hot as in very hot, the expansion tank kept bubbling, the heater was cold and engine was at 102c which sounds like overheating.

Any ideas please

Thanks guys

On 4/9/2022 at 3:11 PM, Alex.S said:

Sorry to go way off OP…. A friend sent me this photo of his expansion tank , looks like a lot of oil in there , I’ll attach the pick. It’s a Peugeot. Any opinions appreciated 

Oil cooler or headgasket most likely.

1 hour ago, madman said:

Hi guys.

I thought may been air look I drained the system and re filled it with just water for an test. The water keeps bubbling and at first look the little return pipe wasn't getting hot, this little pipe goes from above right headlight maybe from I'm not sure a water sensor or thermostat to expansion tank.

Then after idle for 20 mins all pipes was hot as in very hot, the expansion tank kept bubbling, the heater was cold and engine was at 102c which sounds like overheating.

Any ideas please

Thanks guys

It's still not bled properly if the heater was cold.  Ideally they should be vacuum bled as Wilco said.  

Did you have the rad cap on when the pipes were all hot and the temp at 102c?  The coolant may be boiling in sone areas at that temp without being pressurised by the cap.

Thanks for replys.

Rad cap was off the whole time as it was started bubbling and felt the 2inch wide expansion pipe from tank be start to rumble and and proper boil with steam.

As I might have a head gasket issue could it be that or a could it be thermostat problem

Thanks guys

 

It will eventually boil without the pressure from the cap.  It shouldn't be left off indefinitely.  The cap spring will release excess pressure and steam, and hold exactly the right amount.  (Unless the cap is knackered of course.)  But I still don't think it's bled properly.

I don't mean this in a nasty way but I think you might be better off asking the garage to bleed it for you.  If there are still airlocks in there, you're risking blowing the headgasket or even cracking the head every time you run it up hot.