P38 Holland and Holland Repair or Not Repair

bri

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
6,178
152
US
So.... I have a driver, I do not believe that it should be restored, but that is up for debate. It is such a cool vehicle.

The issue: it blew a bunch of coolant and near overheated, shut off immediately and had a bunch of work done to it. Hoses radiator, lines etc.

Ran absolutely flawlessly for about 1.5 yrs.

Drove it to the corner store (recently), let it idle for a 20 minutes or so and it was steaming. leaking from the expansion tank and started to overheat. I shut it down.

I let it sit in the drive idling and observing and the expansion tank starts "boiling", coolant starts coming out from the bottom. I know it could very well be the expansion tank or hoses that I have not yet replaced.

Should it boil?

I don't think that it ever overheated to the point where the engine would be ruined, but who knows,. The shop says no exhaust in coolant. Its a newer 4.6 engine, I believe.

I really do not wish to right this vehicle off. There are issues with the air suspension as well and I do not wish to invest in the air suspension if the engine is toast.

Please advise! LOL.
 
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Blueboy

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,205
459
Back in the USA; Rockwood, PA
In what shape is the rest of the Rover? Engine work imho is better than extensive body work. If it were mine, I’d get the engine sorted and then deal with the suspension. Good luck.
 

bri

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
6,178
152
US
Body is good. All is straight. Paint and wood is perhaps 7/10.

Some interior stuff needs fixing, leather is still very good.

Windshield needs repair, but cannot find the trim pieces.
 

WaltNYC

Well-known member
Mar 3, 2010
707
135
NYC
The first time it over heated all that was needed was a radiator and hoses...no head gasket?

Could be your t-stat is stuck closed or your head gaskets are toast. T-stat is cheaper so start there.
 
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bri

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
6,178
152
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The first time it over heated all that was needed was a radiator and hoses...no head gasket?

Could be your t-stat is stuck closed or your head gaskets are toast. T-stat is cheaper so start there.
Would exhaust be in coolant on head gasket?

Would I see leaks for head gasket?

Will get new tstat, I thought of that earlier and forgot.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
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Northern Illinois
You can check that the stat is opening without going out and buying a new one. Feel the hose coming out of the radiator. It should be cold untill the stat opens and you can feel it get hot when it does open. Take your $30 and buy beer or vodka.
 
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bri

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
6,178
152
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Yeah. Thing is it is not overheating now.... I think. But it definitely did momentarily a few weeks back.
 

rover rob

Well-known member
Mar 29, 2016
272
56
upstate NY
could also be as simple as air in the system . I had a air lock that caused it to blow out of the tank. these engines can be a pita to bleed air out.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
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Northern Illinois
You need to figure out when it overheats. At idle? I say that because you said you left it running while you went in a store or something like that. So if it only overheats at idle I would be looking at the fan and making sure its moving enough air. If it overheats when your driving over 15 mph the fan isn't even needed. Also make sure your radiator isn't rotting and also make sure you don't have leaves and other stuff collecting in front of the radiator.
 

WaltNYC

Well-known member
Mar 3, 2010
707
135
NYC
Good point on the moving vs not moving issue. After a number of years the fins of the A/C condenser, oil cooler, trans cooler, and/or radiator could be quite clogged. This is what my transmission oil cooler looked like when I bought it. Notice the lower cooler (trans IIRC) is full of oil/grime most likely from a leaky A/C condenser. I replaced all four items and it now runs ridiculously cool. Generally below 180 in winter and 193 max in the heat of summer with the A/C on.
jpeg_2021-07-06_08-59-44_3.jpeg
 

bri

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
6,178
152
US
You need to figure out when it overheats. At idle? I say that because you said you left it running while you went in a store or something like that. So if it only overheats at idle I would be looking at the fan and making sure its moving enough air. If it overheats when your driving over 15 mph the fan isn't even needed. Also make sure your radiator isn't rotting and also make sure you don't have leaves and other stuff collecting in front of the radiator.

Gonna probably look in radn. Fan and leaves not an issue.

Would there be exhaust in coolant if head gasket is starting to go?
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
Not always. I think most headgaskets start with something like you have going on. Overheat it enough times and it will blow out a headgasket. Then people put headgaskets on them and blow those out too because the cause never got fixed. When you look at the radiator look at the thin corogated looking fins between the tubes that carry coolant. Those rot away and leave just the tubes. Look forward thru the fan blades at the back side of it. As far as the fan moving air your just going to have to feel it. Compare it to another one thats not overheating. You don't have to get your hand all that close to feel the air moving.
 
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