Hi all,

An update following my previous post last night (below this and titled something along the lines of coolant loss..head gasket)

After my dad thinking the head gasket had gone, he wanted a second opinion just to be on the safe side and a mobile mechanic looked at the car and replaced the thermostat.. then took it for a drive and said it was still overheating and then realised the thermostat housing was cracked and so is awaiting the part to replace this. He has 'somehow' disconnected the housing so that the car is driveable for now until the housing can be fitted.

Anyway... assuming this will sort the original problem can I ask the following:

1) why would the thermostat housing crack in the first place? what would cause this?

2) why, after the car overheated to 110+ degrees and i pulled over, was there an obvious line of something having leaked on the floor... i assume it was coolant but i dont get why the thermostat housing being cracked wouild cause a leak? maybe its obvious but i need this explaining as i dont know how my car can go from being completeley buggered to the point where it was overheating within 2 mins driving and looking like it needed a new gasket, to being ok and driveable just by replacing the thermostat?

3) with reference to it being the thermostat and thermostat housing... i assume these must give off similar symptoms to a failed head gasket?

I am just trying to put my mind at rest as am convinced that although it seems ok now, i wouldnt be that lucky!!

thanks