Fiat Punto R reg 1997 - Water coolant level below minimum each day. Top up and still goes to below minimum at the end of the day after only a short drive. Cant see much water on the ground. Could it just need bleeding? Where could the water be going? Any other ideas folks?

Bleeding only removes air from the system when the level has dropped far enough for air to get dragged in. But if the level is dropping and no signs of leakage then the head gasket is your most likely answer. If it is the HG, gas gets pumped in from the cylinders and you risk further damage by using it even if you do keep it topped up.

Best get it sorted ASAP because coolant is harmful to the O2 sensor and exhaust catalyst. Leave it too long and you'll have them to add to the bill.

WhiteSei said:

Bleeding only removes air from the system when the level has dropped far enough for air to get dragged in. But if the level is dropping and no signs of leakage then the head gasket is your most likely answer. If it is the HG, gas gets pumped in from the cylinders and you risk further damage by using it even if you do keep it topped up.

Best get it sorted ASAP because coolant is harmful to the O2 sensor and exhaust catalyst. Leave it too long and you'll have them to add to the bill.

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Thanks for the reply, however I've just checked under the car and there is quite a bit of water on the floor now coming from the underside of the car around half way down. Where could it be leaking from?

Which engine?

Have you got a water rail across the front of the engine?

Cheers

SPD

rallycinq said:

Which engine?

Have you got a water rail across the front of the engine?

Cheers

SPD

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Its a Fiat Punto SX TD 1997 'R' Reg.

fiatmg said:

Its a Fiat Punto SX TD 1997 'R' Reg.

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Ah, sorry, not up to speed on the TD engine.

Cheers

SPD

Thanks anyway rallycinq ... Any other ideas folks? Could it be a water pipe? Apologies, I work in IT, no mechanic!

fiatmg said:

Thanks anyway rallycinq ... Any other ideas folks? Could it be a water pipe? Apologies, I work in IT, no mechanic!

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Just to keep up to date, had a mechanic mate take a quick look and he couldnt see what the problem was either. Definately no white smoke on start up so he's quite sure the HG is ok. Water pumps etc seem fine, there is water on the floor but nowhere the amount that keeps being put into the car. Still the same scenario, I top the water right up in the morning, the mrs potters about during the day, school runs etc, and by close of play the water is right down again.

Really scratching my head on this one.

Any more thoughts?

It may only be a little bit of water on the floor when stationary, but when the system is pressurised whilst running, it could well be a torrent. Park over some newspaper and identify where the drips are from.

I had the outside edge of the head gasket fail on a VW Golf. The cylinder seals were fine but water was leaking from the cooling jacket at the head joint. It was an old car but had always been used with proper coolant so I risked some RadWeld. The leak stopped and the car carried on for another 2 years.

If the car has dirty coolant this might not be such a good idea because plain water/wrong coolant causes corrosion in the water galleries that can get clogged when RadWeld type stuff is used.