Apart from the badge on the grill!
96 3.5L DOHC Pajero on gas.
Broke down this morning. Pulled over. Engine stalled. Converter had iced up.
Thought either too much gas or not enough water. More likely not enough
water, as gas system was serviced a month ago.
Lots of bubbling and gurgling in the overflow bottle.
Got the cap off, took hardly any coolant. Temp gauge was normal. Put cap
back on, and tried to start and drive again. Started, but drove badly, like
starving for fuel. Pulled over. Called RACV guy. He noticed the pressure as
he took the cap off, and said blown head gasket. Also noted lots of gurgling
in overflow bottle again. Switched to petrol, and ran engine with cap off.
No bubbles or tell tale signs of blown head gasket. Poured water over
converter to de-ice it. Switched back to gas. Started fine, and idled well
again. Suggested thermostat not opening properly. Drove home to switch cars,
which was not more than about 4 or 5 km. Fecking thing iced up again in that
distance. Got it home carefully.
My normal mechanic says he thinks it's more than just a dodgy thermostat. I
hope he's full of sh.t. He says it MUST have air pockets, but what I can't
understand is why it took next to no coolant.
I've bought a replacement thermostat, which I'll replace tonight anyway, but
was looking for advice on what others may think.
Water pump was done when the timing belt was done about 40,000km ago, so it
shouldn't be that.
Thanks,
Crash Lander

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I'm not always right,
But I'm never wrong!
Rob Leonard - 07 Apr 2006 04:43 GMT
Have had a few people experience this over the last couple of days coincides
with a drop in temp and the heater being for the first after summer, hmmm
could mean an air lock in the heater circuit. Doesnt need a big bubble to
stop waterflow or cause convertor to freeze.
> Apart from the badge on the grill!
> 96 3.5L DOHC Pajero on gas.
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> Thanks,
> Crash Lander
Biggus La Great. - 07 Apr 2006 08:20 GMT
> Converter had iced up.
> on gas.
Theres your problem - the gas has frozen.. Watch taxi drivers
regularly carrying thermos' full of boiling water.. for one reason
only!
Crash Lander - 07 Apr 2006 12:07 GMT
>> Converter had iced up.
>> on gas.
>
> Theres your problem - the gas has frozen.. Watch taxi drivers
> regularly carrying thermos' full of boiling water.. for one reason
> only!
The converter froze because there was not enough hot water flowing throught
he coverter for some reason. It's the 'some reason' I'm trying to track
down! BTW, you should not de-ice the converter with hot water pouring over
it anyway! It should be done with normal tap temp water to avoid cracking
components!
Crash Lander