Things I learnt driving an Alfa (for 5 weeks)

[Repco Lad]

As the man said in a previous post, the best thing you can do for your GTV is to drive it, so for the last 5 weeks I have been driving the GTV everyday, whilst the 'GL' uses my car as we wait for non-descript Korean box to arrive.

I only learnt 3 things during this period, although I am sure this list can be added to:

1. What is the deal with Commodore owners?? Everytime I had a car up my exhaust pipe on the freeway wanting to 'go', it was a Commodore.

2. Apparently Alfa produced around 2,000,000 GTV6's in the 80's, because every-one second person tells me they knew some-one who had one.

3. I now own a car. Apparently you haven't owned a car until you've owned an Alfa. Or so I am told. Repeatedly...with laughter

However, my GTV has just realised that it will be sharing space with a Hyundai, and after 5 weeks of faultless motoring, has decided to show me who is boss.

Symptoms:
Running hotter- thermo kicking in regularly in stop/ start traffic
Using water- no obvious leaks, although there is a subtle hiss from the expansion tank cap. Doesn't appear to be any water in oil or on engine components
Idles like a dog on start up- then comes good

I'm hoping it's thermostat/ water pump related- got a suspicion its going to be head gasket related.

Thoughts, any-one??

Thanks

RL

[Doug Gould]

I've never had an Alfa fail to get me home. However, I did have to stop and give my 164 to my wife because her Landcruiser spat out its alternator belts. But just try and tell anyone!!

Regarding your car, I start with the easy stuff and look at the thermo switch.

Doug

[Brad M]

I've never had an Alfa fail to get me home.

So running out of petrol, having me drive by and wave doesn't count because that was getting away from home, right?

[MD]

If there is no water in the oil that is a good sign. A few things that should be done:-

1 Pressure test the cooling system.
2 Remove all plugs to see if there are any that are very clean compared to others. If so, there is a water
   leak in that chamber. That means head gasket or cylinder head issues.
3 If the radiator core is partially blocked, it will cause similar problems. Remove one tank and inspect    the core tubes. If the core is bloked, water loss will occur via the overflow tank discharge tube and you will get no water in the oil or "clean" plugs.
4 Apart from that, there may also be some water loss around the water pump shaft but this is relativley rare.

[Repco Lad]

Guys,

Thanks for taking the time to post back- will get under the bonnet on the weekend and see what I can find out!

RL

[Repco Lad]

Subsequent under-bonnet activities have revealed that my plugs are swimming in oil, not water. Looks like I have some 'issues' with my heads.

RL