[woodshed]

Thanks for the replies so far.

It does fit the symptoms of cavitation but when I examined the filter, I don't quite understand what is happening.

There is a small hole at the bottom, which when i put my finger over it and fill the centre means the thing will hold fluid - ie the gauze seems to be blocked.

But when the engine is running I would expect the fluid in the middle to be sucked in then air - hence the cavitation, but the level stays the same. The pump seems to be getting fluid despite the 'blocked' filter.

I dont know how the inside of the reservoir is designed. The pump runs if I remove the filter and the noise seems better.

Can I run the car without the filter until I can get another one?

Martin