General Multipla JTD losing coolant

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General Multipla JTD losing coolant

Joined
Sep 14, 2012
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32
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Location
Oxford
So after my escapade with the brake light switch, I've been using my Multipla quite happily again (it passed 250,000 miles too!). Until Monday, when the Engine temp light came on on my way to work. I killed the engine at the lights, and then started it and drove the mile to work - the light came on just as I was pulling into the car park. There was coolant coming out from somewhere, but I couldn't see where.
When I returned, I added water to the coolant reservoir, and it took 2 litres to fill it to the max level!:eek: I have since been keeping an eye on the level, and it goes down a little each time I take a journey long enough to get the engine up to temperature, but I can't see any drips or any leaks. It's not losing a lot, so I can keep topping it up, and it's going to the garage for a service and MOT on Friday, but I'm sightly concerned that it might be the HG. Is there any way for me to investigate this without doing a compression test (I don't have a compression tester)?
While I really like my Multipla, there are lots of minor faults (missing sunvisor, broken boot lid switches, brake squeal (possibly rear shoes on way out), air-con not working and more), and if the HG is really gone, and that's going to be a big bill, it might be more economical to buy a newer low mileage example than fix this one. Any opinions on where I should cut my losses and change car rather than fix? I've got 2 years out of it, and though it had the cambel and a few other things done last year, I can't complain if it's time to give up...
Cheers
Duncan
 
Additional info - no mayo on filler cap, oil level normal. I wonder if there is a pin-hole type leak somewhere that is opened up when the system is under pressure - I guess that would mean no drips when sat still, but slow coolant loss over time.
Cheers
Duncan
 
Did you replace the water pump at the last cam belt change?

If not, it could be your water pump.. I've always replaced them on my cars at cam belt change time over the last 20 odd years as a new cam belt can hasten the demise of the bearings on a water pump that's done 72K
 
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