We study a dissipative nonlinear equation modelling certain features of the Navier–Stokes equations. We prove that the evolution of radially symmetric compactly supported initial data does not lead to singularities in dimensions n⩽4. For dimensions n>4, we present strong numerical evidence supporting the existence of blow-up solutions. Moreover, using the same techniques we numerically confirm a conjecture of Lepin regarding the existence of self-similar singular solutions to a semi-linear heat equation.