Issues with 2011 Isuzu D-Max cooling system
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Asked by Bruce
Our 2011 Isuzu D-Max pressurised the cooling system while climbing a large hill. About 100m from the top, the temperature gauge, within seconds, went from normal and rose instantly as water sprayed out the front of radiator and covered the car. We instantly pulled over and let it cool before starting and trying to put coolant in but it blew it back out at us. We switched off the car and refilled the radiator once it had cooled down. We then drove another 40km home without any problems.
We’ve since replaced the radiator, checked thermostat, water to turbo, EGR valve but still have the problem. The vehicle is running fine with no miss or loss of power but pressurising the system still. There’s no water leaking, the radiator stays full and there’s no water in the oil.
Answered by CarsGuide
25 Oct 2024This really does sound a bit like a head gasket problem. Even though the coolant and oil aren’t mixing (as you might expect with a blown head gasket) if the gasket blows between the coolant passages and the combustion chamber, the pressure of the engine’s combustion (particularly when the turbocharger is boosting when, say, climbing a long hill) can pressurise the cooling system, leading to the sorts of problems you’re having, including ejecting the coolant all over the place.
But until you’ve done a couple of simple checks, there’s no way of knowing whether there’s a blockage or other problem with the cooling system that is allowing the engine to become too hot. At that point, the coolant will also force its way out of the engine with a similar set of symptoms. A chemical check (called a TK test) will be able to identify whether combustion gasses are finding their way into the coolant, suggesting a head gasket failure., A good mechanic should also be able to tell if there’s a blockage in the coolant system or a problem with the coolant pump.
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