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I was driving my Sube '87 RX Turbo down my highway when all of a sudden revs flared to the redline. Shifted out of neutral and coasted to a stop in the emergency lane. Switched off the engine, turned it on again but the revs were still climbing, so I waited for it to cool.

When I opened the hood the coolant from the coolant tank was boiling AND it was still full. Tried cranking the engine over when it cooled, but it was making a really disturbing noise, like something down in the cylinders.

The RACV guy opened the radiator and found it completely dry, meaning that no coolant was entering from the tank. Does anyone know why that is? He reckons it's major engine damage and the car will need a new engine, but it wasn't overheating for long and the revs only flared for a couple of seconds. The noise sounds fairly serious though. Wonder why coolant didn't flow from the overflow tank to the radiator. Could such short overheating have wrecked the engine?

ANy ideas anyone? I want to know if this guy is on the up and up, and if it's worth trying to get repairs/new engine down in Canberra. I guess it's a fairly rare car because I haven't seen any others on the road.

the first fault of car temp gauges is that they need to be in contact with the water to give a water temp reading. If you suddenly lose water like big water leak, burst hose there is only steam in there and you won't see any change on the gauge.

the overflow tank catches overflowing water or steam released by the radiator cap if functioning correctly. I have seen water sucked backed in an operating temp engine, but theory has been that it only flows back to top up radiator as it cools down!

You say RACV, sounds like you are in VIctoria, or is car in Canberra, there is a few of us nearby.I can spare time for a quick look /listen in next few days if in Canberra. EA82T not cheap to fix or replace.
Is it auto ?

probably pushed the water out the overflow tank because of a blown headgasket very common with EA82T

Why would revs flare to redline?

Or did you mean the temp gauge?

I agree....engine redlining with revs is very strange indeed and shouldn't have any relationship to engine temperature at all.

yeah weird eh. My only guess is sticky throttle cable or busted return spring.

timmo

busted air valve hose might leak big air after throttle body

Yep, I meant redlining with revs, not temperature. Weird, eh? Shouldn't be related to the overheating, but that's what started it. Any ideas on what to do now? I'm going to find out from the mechanic tomorrow what's going on, but I don't want to get ripped off.

Thanks Jono for offering to have a look but the car is still in Yass. Hope it goes alright tomorrow!

evo6fan - what's the verdict ?