(Home) Overheating answer

I've just found this site and have read alot about overheating. I may be able to help someone by telling of my experiance with my 2L diesel Town ace.
After having a recon engine fitted, it drove perfectly until driven at speed. The temp would shoot up into the red and water poured out of the expansion tank.
If I kept the speed to about 50mph then it would take about an hour for the same to happen.
I discovered that the recon engine had no thermostat fitted. A new thermostat was fitted and all the problems were sorted.
On speaking to a mechanic he stated that the thermostat is needed to slow the flow of the water. At speed (70mph) the water is flowing so fast around the block and through the radiator that it does not get time to cool so it gets hotter and hotter until it by-passes the radiator cap and pours out of the expansion tank as water and steam.
I hope this may be useful to someone. - (#354) Phil E, 24 Jun 01

Thanks for the tip. I've been having exactly the same problem, up till now i've only changed the rad cap, but this will be my next stop, many thanks - (#385) Bob Amabile, 30 Jun 01