As I type

A quality bodge is going off. NOG's heater valve is now covered in chemical metal. In about another ten minutes, I'll going to see if it has gone off, and if it has, I'll try filling in with water, and see what happens.

I may slack the rad cap a bit, it gives it more of a chance to work... see how good it seems.

Heater valves

I ran out of coolant on my way home from church tonight.
I had some spare in a can (I always carry some water, it comes in handy), and so I was soon on my way again.

However, not before discovering the cause. NOG doesn't have a heater, and as far as I know, has never had one. However, the engine, not being the original, has a SIII heater valve, and this had started leaking. I suspect it had been weeping for a bit, and I'd not noticed, because of course, being rather warm, anything that leaked would evaporate away straight away - certainly I've known water was going somewhere for a bit.

Anyway, no question it was leaking now - it was gushing water like a geyser. I'll smother it in chemical metal tomorrow, drive to a plumbers merchants, if I can find an open one, and buy a pair of blanking plugs. Problem solved then.

Still the irony of a breakdown caused by a totally un-neccesary fitment is a little annoying.