Hi guys, I have an EF XR8 - I realise this is the 6 cylinder forum but I think my problem is related to Falcon's in general

I think I may have a cooling problem.

When my car is turned off, the temperature gauge needle is quite a bit below the bottom line. When I run the car, under normal driving conditions the needle barely goes into the normal area.

If I give the car a big go, it rises up to probably about 2/3

After a while mid rpm driving (such as on the freeway and giving it the gun around town), I get this light pop up of what looks like a water container, with a squiggly water line and a fan in it, it's in red.

The temperature gauge seems fine.

Sometimes I think I can smell it overheating but I cant be sure.

I pull over into the servo, undo the reservoir cap (which is always highly pressurised) and steam will come out, because of the pressure it usually will go all over the servo forecourt.

So I pour new water in (which is usually only about 1L) then drive off, the light has gone.

So all the symptoms point to an overheating problem, but the gauge seems fine, and I dont think I am giving the car a hard time.

I am thinking I might have a problem somewhere and the gauge isnt working properly?

What is the normal operation for the gauge?

Thanks for all your input

That light sounds like the resovoir level warning..

Do you run the car while you put water in it? Should run the car so that it is circulating and opens the thermostat and not give yourself Air Pockets

Sounds like you have a leak in the coolant/radiator lines
somewhere....
That is if you need to be topping it up regularly, and have the
"coolant level" warning light coming on.

no offence but are ya stupid do you like ya face cause never take a rad cap off when hot as that water can bee over boiling temp due to cap and coolant mix but what ya saying bout it spewin steam and water every where is very dangerous dont take this the wrong way just tryin to save ya same very painfull experience

but on the topic the senor for the header tank can be playin up by filling and sinking and when you rlease the pressure and refilling it empties out then refills under pressure try replacing that

Of course, I covered the cap.....

i would pull the coolant level sensor out and check that the float is not full of water, you may have to relpace it if u take it out but cuz i couldnt get mine back in, but that would be my first guess, you putting thet litre of water in is prob just replancing what u lost when u opened that cap. before you open it up next time check the coolant leval, if its between the min and max line its fine, and i would guess the sensor,

To save yourself getting burnt, Dont switch your car off when to take the cap off... and refill it, then close it and turn the car off

My ef done the same thing and all that was wrong with it was a faulty radiator cap.
I put a new one on and every thing went back to normal.

This might not be the answer to your problem but with the price of a new radiator cap costing less then 10 bucks it would be wourth a try.

Thanks mate, will give it a go

how did you go, any luck.

crack the cap and tilt it up 2wards the overflow pipe coz sum times you need to open it when its hot