This started about a week ago.

I cleaned it up once hoping it was a once off, but it keeps coming back.

Is this related to the heater matrix?

if it is you have been neglecting it it shouldnt be rust colour, has the coolant level dropped?

check scuttle panel under bonnet it should have drain holes than can often be blocked by leaves so fill with water and over flow into cab (if you're lucky)

does it smell?

this dont show how to drain but shows what fills up http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9un3PN2lia4

Similar to mine and many many others, crap design and even worse backup from the manufacturer, I've all the bits to modify my scuttle grill, search "water ingress" on this ducato forum and you will find the aftermarket fixes, (P Seal to seal scuttle to screen, pipe inserts & hose to improve drainage, foam expanding tape to seal around headlamps,trims & bonnet edges) just waiting for slight "oops" accident damage to be repaired before tackling the mod

Cheers guys, I'll check it tomorrow - hopefully it is that simple

It's this... inside is empty, but also full of the brown sludge.

So is this a leak, or it's causing trouble because it's empty?

What even needs to go in it?

thats the coolant expansion tank coolant goes in there ( anti-freeze water mix)

if its brown an rusty its not good should be a nice colour. go motor factors and ask for coolant that will mix with any colour, dont drive van there, if you drive it now you may do more damage.

the coolant stops things rotting away,

Ok, I'll have to go halfords though, I don't have a motor factors near me. Do you have a website link to what i need?

It needs an mot soon, so I guess I'll ask them to look at it then.

you are filling it to see if its still leaking, if it is then you wont be driving it any where. (hoping it coincidence though)

not sure i trust halfords to sell the right stuff

http://www.yell.com/s/motor+factors-sw11.html

price up a matrix whilst you are there


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/3904...ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108


ready to use you just use, concentrated you mix half n half with water

Well that was £16 a bottle, so they suggested I just bought the red 5l instead.

Getting home however and checking the manual, it seems I might have wanted blue.

Anyway, on Dave's advice, running it now for 30 mins with just water, then seeing if it either goes down, or the leak starts...

Thinking about it though, I'm not sure if this can be conclusive. As I haven't stopped the rain leak if there was one as I couldn't see any blockages....

if its rain there is no panic, if cooling system is sound you can drive it any where to fix a rain leak even to stanford

anyone know if its dash out to fit a new matrix on these? you may need help from some one your side of the river if cooling system is leaking Davren


Also check make sure fan is kicking in when it gets hot...

I mean we still won't know if that stuff is rain water or coolant. Unless it goes down really really fast...

Ah cack, I've just moved it over the road so as not to annoy the neighbors, but of course now the level will be different.

How long does it take to cool down, so I can do it again?

why would level be different on the other side of the road?

My road has a massive camber - and I also couldn't see the water through the side of the tank, so i was having to measure up to the rust mark on the inside... lol

It's been off 10 mins now ... safe to open?

Hm, a single drop of water came down into the footwell - hard to tell what colour it was.

I've refilled the tank up now and scratched a mark on the outside so I can see where it started at. Running it for 30 mins again now, see what happens...

keep an eye on the level whilst running,

( a torch / light behind bottle will help)

the fan cutting in + out will alter the level,

just watch the MIN + MAX of it's heat cycling..

you may of course be shifting SOME air.. if it's been LOW for long,


charlie

3 more drops of water that - if it is a leak, it must be tiny - I'll be so sad if it needs a new heater matrix, thats a 2-3 hour job isn't it

It does need an MOT next week too - so I guess if we don't get it resolved by then, I'll just get them to check it over. Obviously don't wanna spend masses of cash if I don't need to though....

I'll leave it overnight now and come back tomorrow - see where the level is.