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Technical Engine Coolant

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Technical Engine Coolant

Papa P

Papa P

aka PuntoSporting
Joined
Feb 20, 2003
Messages
1,765
Points
340
Location
Irvine, Ayrshire, United
OKay, a two pronged question here!

Just opened my bonnet to put some water into the windscreen washers...and noticed that the Engine Coolant is sitting at a ridiculously low level. Anyone know how I could be loosing coolant? I have noticed that when idleing there is alot of condensation from the exhaust, even once it has been running for a while...more than other cars anyway!

And how do I top it up? I have checked the manual and it states to only use PARAFLU antifreeze....so am I going to have to take a trip to a dealer to get this antifreeze before I can put any water in it?
 
Don't use neat water as coolant. These days 'coolant' is a specially formulated product and the manufacturer's recommendation should be followed. It has all sorts of rust inhibitors etc. in it.

You may find there is no problem with a low cold reading. Speak to a tech.
 
Papa P said:
OKay, a two pronged question here!

Just opened my bonnet to put some water into the windscreen washers...and noticed that the Engine Coolant is sitting at a ridiculously low level. Anyone know how I could be loosing coolant? I have noticed that when idleing there is alot of condensation from the exhaust, even once it has been running for a while...more than other cars anyway!

And how do I top it up? I have checked the manual and it states to only use PARAFLU antifreeze....so am I going to have to take a trip to a dealer to get this antifreeze before I can put any water in it?
Click to expand...

Possible Head Gasket....top it up in the expansion bottle where you see the low coolant level. Check for a white-ish slime in the oil filler neck / cap, a sniff or compression test might help.

Hope I am wrong! :eek:
 
Its not the reading on the dash I'm worried about, it always goes to half way as normal...

...its in the actual Engine Coolant reservoir...there is very little in there, and the car had been driven for about 10 minutes so it was up to temperature!

I'm actually scared to take it out now!
 
Papa P said:
Its not the reading on the dash I'm worried about, it always goes to half way as normal...

...its in the actual Engine Coolant reservoir...there is very little in there, and the car had been driven for about 10 minutes so it was up to temperature!

I'm actually scared to take it out now!
Click to expand...
hai papa , this is ganesh from india, as per your problem,
my openion is 1. chek there is any leak in the coolant pipes, if that pipes or good,
2. two fans is running properly or not chek first, if two fans or moving very slow, the heat is coming very fast,

i this it is very use for problem,
ganesh.v
 
Hi mate,

Its common on the bravo t-jet to have a small leak from the coolant pipe to the turbo. Have a look for pinkish crusty deposits are on the coolant pipes where they go to the turbo. Dealers are aware of this and its a simple fix.

Check your carpets under the mats in the front foot - wells. See if they are wet. I recently had the coolant pipe to the heater matrix go due to chafing.

Failing that and checking for leaks in the rad coolant hoses then sniff test would rule out/in head gasket.

Alan

EDIT and if you top it up, you should have pink paraflu in it already, but make sure you ONLY top it up with the same colour paraflu as they dont mix and can turn to wax.

EDIT EDIT lol: THIS is my original thread on my problem
 
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yeah I've already had the pipes replaced from the turbo after it spewed lovely pink collant all over the front of the engine bay, and from what i could see there isnt any of the same.

I am sure they filled the reservoir when this was fixed back in August/September, so basically it has went through the whole reservoir since then!

I think I'll just book it in tomorrow so they can take a look at it...and fill it up for me!

I'm hoping that its not a HG already...if it is they can have the whole car back, i went through enough problems with the HG on my Punto!
 
Just a question. Do you by any chance wring its neck out like a mad thing from cold? I'm sure you don't, but I know someone who does, and he blew a gasket within four months.
Please don't be offended, but I had to ask.
 
Nope, i definitley dont!

I used to do that with my old Punto...probably why it ended up needing 3 Head Gaskets done in the space of a year...but that was after YEARS of me doing it from cold.

With the Bravo however I have always been careful to make sure that its warmed up before I put the foot down....and most of my daily journey is sitting on dual carriageway which I join 5 minutes from my house so no real opportunity to rag it until its very warm anyway.

I would say that its been driven for about 10 minutes before I hit the first roundabout where i "might" occasionally floor it when I exit the roundabout! ;) And coming home its nose to tail for about the first 20 minutes so the engine/turbo have well warmed up by that point!

I'm really concerned that its the HG as I honestly cant see any leaks. But its going in to Fiat in the morning so will see what they say tomorrow!
 
Papa P said:
Nope, i definitley dont!

I used to do that with my old Punto...probably why it ended up needing 3 Head Gaskets done in the space of a year...but that was after YEARS of me doing it from cold.

With the Bravo however I have always been careful to make sure that its warmed up before I put the foot down....and most of my daily journey is sitting on dual carriageway which I join 5 minutes from my house so no real opportunity to rag it until its very warm anyway.

I would say that its been driven for about 10 minutes before I hit the first roundabout where i "might" occasionally floor it when I exit the roundabout! ;) And coming home its nose to tail for about the first 20 minutes so the engine/turbo have well warmed up by that point!

I'm really concerned that its the HG as I honestly cant see any leaks. But its going in to Fiat in the morning so will see what they say tomorrow!
Click to expand...

Hope not Papa P fingers x'd.
 
a1ant said:
Hi mate,

Its common on the bravo t-jet to have a small leak from the coolant pipe to the turbo. Have a look for pinkish crusty deposits are on the coolant pipes where they go to the turbo. Dealers are aware of this and its a simple fix.
Click to expand...

Is this a very common fault? I mean if many here had this problem?
 
Well...just had the call from Fiat...and its the turbo pipes again that have been leaking coolant! (n)

And on a side note...asked them to check my headlight level, and they have adjusted them as they were too low, so I might now be able to see more than 30ft in front of the car at night! :):worship:

So I get to keep the incredibly non-heterosexual baby blue 500 courtesy car overnight! :bang::bang:
 
Last edited:
Ozi said:
Is this a very common fault? I mean if many here had this problem?
Click to expand...

I think there's been a few people on here with it. I've seen it several times myself.

Papa P said:
Well...just had the call from Fiat...and its the turbo pipes again that have been leaking coolant! (n)

And on a side note...asked them to check my headlight level, and they have adjusted them as they were too low, so I might now be able to see more than 30ft in front of the car at night! :):worship:

So I get to keep the incredibly non-heterosexual baby blue 500 courtesy car overnight! :bang::bang:
Click to expand...

Excellent! At least its a nice straight forward fix! (y)

And you know you love the 500 really ;) lol

Alan
 
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