Driving home yesterday from getting the car MOT'd I arrived back at the house to find a trail of coolant from the vent hose. There was also a nasty gurgling sound - the sound of air bursting forth into the header tank. The temperature was not that much higher than normal but I had been going at a fair rate of knots with no stops which would have helped keep temp down.

I am sure there was no problem before the MOT and when trying to mount their ramps the sump (or other?) caught - was maintaining a fair momoentum to get up on the ramps so hit with a bit of a thud. After getting it on another ramp and then moving it out of the way there was no leakage so it must be temperature related.

But could this have been the cause? Would I have hit the pump rather than the sump and what damage could result? From a cursory look (not had the chance to get underneath it yet and scared of what I will find) there does not appear to be anything obvious. Another bit of evidence could be that the main pipe into and from the radiator was a lot cooler than the hoses around the engine block. Is this an indication of a pump problem?

Is this a big fix?

Cheers

With the engine cold does the expansion / header tank pressurise ?

Does the water have an oily feel ?

Have you lost power ?

It was pressurised when I arrived back and haven't ran it long enough to see (bit scared really!).

No oily feel to the water.

No loss of power, engine was brilliant which I put down to a new exhaust and manifold I just put on. Could this be I am not driving the pump?

At first I thought head gasket (and possibly still do). What engine is it ?

You could have damaged the pump and it could be just boiling into the header tank.

Just replace the pump. I'd be tempted to change the 'stat at the same time to make sure that it's opening and you're getting flow to the rad.

I'd check the compression too - just in case.

Could you have collapsed/squashed a coolant hose running it up onto the ramp??

Thanks for the replies.

It's a fireblade RRX. I thought it could be the head gasket too initially but there doesn't appear to be the usual issues - watery oil or white smoke from exhaust. Could be early days though!

I am hoping it will be something simple like a hose but from the quick look I did manage did not seem to be anything obvious. will get a good look tonight but could be a new pump and 'stat on order!

Well, I got the car up and had a look and at first glance there was absolutely nothing wrong until I noticed a minor oil leak that wasn't there before and was coming from around the water pump. Put my finger up there to check it was oil and blow me the water pump moved!

In my reversing movement to get onto the ramps I have cracked all 3 mounts which basically means that my pump was floating. Prognosis is therefore not good and looks like a bit of welding required but will use this opportunity to replace with an electric water pump.

I knew I shouldn't have looked underneath!!!