Hello

I have a 1976 Mk1 Golf Automatic that for the last month has been giving me grief,

Bit of background car has done 184k's, in the last 2 years I've replaced the radiator with a new unit, due to over heating, the hoses, the water pump, the welsh? spelling? plugs, thermostat. the temp gauge, the circuit board that controls the temp gauge, finally this fixed the over heating problems, in that time the car has traveled maybe 1,000k's at most.

Oh I also once had the heater leak coolant into the passenger side foot well and this was also replaced with a good second hand unit, as you can see I have spent a lot of money on this car to try and keep it cool.



I have other cars so rarely use it,

the last month it has started to get really hot again, nearly reaching the max red part on the temp gauge, on inspection the bottom radiator hose was leaking, replaced the hose with a new unit, was fine again.

Have maybed used it for 100k's since, just to test it and keep an eye on it, well today i was driving it, noticed I was right on the max part of the temp gauge, pulled over, no water in the radiator at all.

Fortunately I always carry a bottle full, started filling it up and the water was pouring out of the hose, in the exact same spot the previous hose had a hole in it, just near the clamp, which is also new when I fitted the hose,


I was only about 4 k's from home, so decided to risk it, pulled the grille out of the front of the car to give it better cooling abilities, and drove home.













Although it may not seem it in the photo the hose is on there as far as it will go.


Does anyone have any ideas as to why my car wants to blow radiator hoses and overheat still?


thank you in advance for any help or advice.

Hi

Looking at the distortion in the hoses near the clamps, maybe your over tightening them and the clamp is cutting into the hose?

You should always have clamp situated on the hose next to the bump in the fitting, this prevents coolant getting between the hose and fitting and causing corrosion.

Steve

Steve, thanks, I hadn't considered that, simply tightening the clamp up as tight as it would go.

How tight should it be?

I will get another hose and clamp and retry.


thank you

Hi

Im sure that there is a torque wrench setting, but just try not to overdo it, also keep checking the clamps will loosen for a few weeks.

Steve

Also... not to be rude or anything. but are you getting the same brand hose each time? try something different. It also looks like its maybe wrong... like on a wierd angle and that it is sucking in on itself... trying getting something stronger or a slightly different shape.... avoid them contacting anything else hot etc. and dont tighten those clamps tooo tight... it will rip the rubber. you can get a different type of clamp (they come on new cars) but you can only use them once. they are harder to use, but are less likely to leak.... they are like a spring clamp.. love Mk1s

I think it is just the photo distorting the angle, these hose clamps aren't that strong, on a brand new hose its might be possible to cut into one but the odds of it happening more than that are slim, I always test thermostats first as I have had brand new ones that are faulty, is your thermostatic fan switching in, is the water leaking from around the hose to radiator joint, radiator tanks often develop leaks especially plastic ones though more often on the outlet than inlet. Is the hose a tight fit on the radiator or is the diameter a loose fit, if water is leaking at the hose joint then it is either the wrong diameter hose or it is installed incorectly.
if you are loosing water its no wonder the egine is over heating, it is obviously a good idea to always keep an eye on your gauges and stop the egine. be interesting to know what is up

I wonder if the headgasket is OK. Check under the oil cap for creamy oil and water mix and see if oil drips off the dipstick.

This could be where the water is going, especially if it has been overheated a few times.

have nos rad cap $20 posted