Lately every time I start my series 3 I can hear liquid from the front moving around and it makes sort of a gurgling sound. It will go away after I pull of and start driving. When at a stop I don't hear it anymore as well after driving a little bit. I recently posted a thread about how my coolant temp gauge never hits quite to 90 and the heater on 85 only comes out warm. I check the coolant level all the time and it never drains and is always at the right level. This is starting to make me think its not my thermostat and could be something else like a clogged heater core. Any ideas? If it is my heater core can someone suggest how to correctly unclog it thanks!

 

Or could it just be air in the coolant system?

 

Actually I've heard this sound a few times recently as well and I'm wondering what it is too, not that I'm too concerned though. I feel it's probably related to my engine warming up from being below -10oC.

 

Mine made that noise and I've driven other Ser IIIs that did as well. I assumed it was coolant flowing thru the heater core but never actually investigated. I've heard the noise on other makes/models as well

<shrug>

I wouldn't worry about it, personally.

Cheers
DD

 

The primary clue is that all of the posters noting the phenomona are from cold climates.

It is the sound made by coolant that is or is almost frozen. If it is frozen, the noise
comes a little later when the coolant starts to thaw.

In the current temperatures experienced in those regions, coolant should be mixed
in a 70:30 ratio.

If you test your coolant and it is below that ratio, you can drain off some coolant
and add full strength coolant to bring up the strength of the mix.

If you know the coolant capacity and coolant strength you can figure out how much
to drain off with some arithmetic.

50/50 premix is not your friend because you cannot achieve even 50/50 when
doing a drain and refill due to remaining water in the system.

++

 

Thanks for the responses. I noticed it wont make the noise after starting when the car has been driven throughout the day. Im thinking it might just be the cold. Wont lie I did top off my coolant with 50/50 preston II. So it might just be the water in the mix

 

No, I'm afraid that's not it

I had the noise forever in my Series III.... even in August at 90ºF !

Cheers
DD

 

This gurgling sound does come from the heater core and personally experienced not just in a Jag. In all cases, it was air in the cooling system that some how did not find its way out. Also, low coolant level will manifest itself the same way.

 

It is perhaps not the only possiblity, but the scenario I outlined is a prime candidate in cold climates.

The differentiating factor for the other posters is that it is only in extreme cold weather.

It's one of those been there, done that things