Ok, so i've recently passed my driving test and got given a car from my friend who owns a garage, but he doesn't know alot about cars either.

Problem is, it keeps overheating?!

It's a 1.4 Sport, 5dr on a T plate.

It takes a while, around 30-45mins, and then it starts to over heat. it takes around 15 minutes driving before it even hits operating temp.

I've replaced the coolant in the radiator,

The fans DO kick in when the temp goes near to the top, but not any sooner.

I've topped the oil up, it is 100% NOT mixing in with coolant.

The engine is breathing and there is no coolant mixing or any white colour.

When the radiator cap is OPEN and taken off, when your giving gas, water topples out of it, when the car is hot and you open the radiator cap, it's like a geyser.

When the car is warm, the top of the radiator is hot, the bottom is cold.

Im A NOOB with cars, so any help, pictures or deep explaining will help alot!

What else could I try from home? any help is MUCH APPRECIATED!!! Can't ask family as I was put into care and live with my wife who doesn't understand cars.

EDIT: COULD IT BE THAT ALL THE COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR IS 100% WATER??? I HEARD IT COULD BE?

 

Replace the thermostat and bleed the cooling system. If the problem persists, do tests for a blown head gasket.

 

Bleed as in draining and refilling? I've done that, can you use plain water to refill?

Also I have ordered a new thermostat, thanks for that idea, i've read that elsewhere too so I may try that!

 

BUMP

 

Bleeding as in bleeding the AIR out of the system. Are you using plain water? DON'T. Did you perform any tests for blown headgasket? Did you replace the thermostat?

 

Ok, I shall try bleeding the air tomorrow.

and yes I have used plain water, will this **** things up?

and my cousin had a quick look and he said he doesn't think it's the gasket, but he may be wrong, he said try replacing thermostat and add summer coolant to the radiator.

 

Hm. Lessee. Water + Metal = rust. Water + Heat = steam. Water + Cold = ice. NONE of which are good for the cooling system. And where in any manual does Honda say it's okay to use straight water? These aren't any old domestics where you could get away with that.

Do the compression and leakdown tests for the headgasket. I don't see how someone can LOOK at the headgasket and guess it's okay. Something tells me you need to take this thing to a shop.