we have a k reg 1993 toyota lucida she has had her radiator replaced and thermostat removed but is still overheating she is not showing any of the classic signs of head problems (white smoke form exhaust, white cream in oil or water in oil or dipstick no oily residue in header tank, and she starts up first time everytime) when started up she immediately pressurises and bubbles in header tank what could this be we are well and truly stuck

nicky horner, May 2009

The first thing to do is check if the fan is workin?any perfectly sound car will overheat if the fan does not go on.then while the car idles from a cold start up check if it is blowing bubbles up in the radiator you can see this by taking the radiator cap off -if it does
the car has a high compression leak .just another way the car can blow a gasket without the oil an water mixing.to repair? replace cylinder head gasket and skim
the head. but make certain it is that for sure

Rudolph, June 2009

Its time for you to find a garage that has the necessary equipment to do what is called a 'sniff test' - a probe is put into the air in the water expansion bottle, and, if combustion gases are present, the blue liquid that the air is bubbled through turns yellow.

John, May 2009