Boiling radiator

Boy, am I having a day of it [xx(]

After mucking around for about 3 hours this morning with the computer and anti virus stuff, I decided I had better start the ute today as it has been a while and don't really need to be forking out for another battery just now.
So, I started it, waited for the revs to die down a bit and just left it running for about half an hour whilst I went and carried on with what I am meant to be spending today doing - work.

Went back to the ute and could hear the radiator boiling :eek::eek:

Now the bonnet did have a tarp over it for frost protection, no frost for the past 2 days and relatively warm today. The temp guage was showing near to H rather than its normal half way.

Waited a couple of hours and went to see what damage was done. The radiator still had water in it, but not much. Filled it up with anti freeze. Ute started ok, and sounds ok running, so, have I been lucky and caught it in time, or have I cooked something else???

Ute is a Ford Courier, cab and a half model.

Thermostat stuck closed i think .. easy and cheap fix
get hubby to check it , try again after its been out annd cleanned off
if still boil .. new theromstat is cheap and easy to put in

Could well be a thermostat as Stu has noted, however given the machine you've got and if the problem continues it may be worth getting it checked for a faulty head gasket/cracked head. It's an easy (so should be inexpensive) test.

Cheers, P.

Was cover still over it when you had it running? if so then it could be just lack of air to cool it Did you check water lvel before starting it? Check oil and see if it has gone grey/white and milky, if not no water in oil that is good, is it petrol or diesel?

Thermostat stuck closed? If that was the case the radiator water would of remained cold and the engine would of over heated!

Its more likely that Air is getting in somewhere, and stopping the pressure increase (which raises the boiling temperature) therefore its boiling early....

Solution - firstly check, double check, and triple check that the fan is working, and air flow is not restricted (by your cover etc). Then top water level in both radiator and overflow bottle to normal levels. Park it on dry ground and leave running at idle (while observing) until normal operating temperature is reaching. Look for any obviously leaks, or the sound of an air vacuum.

Thats step one...Let us know how you get on, what the results are, and we can explore further if need be

Thanks guys - will look at it again next week when I am home and have time. Am slightly snowed under now until Monday with our craft market this weekend.