Technical Leaking Coolant

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Technical Leaking Coolant

midlandknight

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Hi all,

Recently noticed my blower was pumping out just cold air and not hot in my 1.2 16V Activ.

Looked at coolant level and noticed it had dropped to below minimum value in around 2 months. Topped up.

No sign of coolant/water leaking into oil or any signs of oil in coolant so I dont think it could be head gasket issues?

Unsure of where else to look as there don't seem to be any apparent leaks I can see nor has the engine ever overheated.

Can anyone help as to what will be cause of the loss of coolant so quickly?

Thanks
 
has it over heated and blown coolant out of expansion tank if its got one,
 
You can tell if the coolant is getting out of the cap - the bonnet liner will show anti-freeze stains very clearly.

I doubt the beast is burning coolant.. that would be a peculiar (but not impossible) type of head gasket failure whereby the coolant is getting sucked into the combustion chamber but not getting into any oilways, which would be within 1 cm distance. The car would also start/idle slightly dicky.

You can check if you're stuck for other ideas - one spark plug will be nice and clean.

It's way most likely to be a leak. If you have some axle stands, you're going to have to jack the beast up and get under it (put it on stands, not just the jack).

The chief culprit will be the water pump. The 1.2 has it on the left side of the engine (as you look at it), near the front of the car about half way up between the sump and the rocker cover. If any coolant leaks from the pump, it will run down the side of the engine and leave pin or blue crystal marks on anything metal (you are using anti-freeze, I hope?).

Second candidate is the hose to the radiator. Bottom hose is the most likely since it gets more vibration than the top one. Check the hose around the Jubilee clip for wetness.

If you find wetness also be aware that it could have run DOWN the hose, so may be coming from further up. If the 1.2 has that metal pipe across the front of the motore it can leak at it's connection with the rubber hose which runs down to the end of the rubber hose. The metal pipe can also be corroded and weeping but that's least likely.

Then there's the Spaghetti Junction of pipery - the thermostat. This is on the right of the engine, nearer the top. Either the gasket can weep or any of half a dozen pipes connecting it to the heater can be leaking. You will see the blue/pink ooze down the side of the engine or on the clutch bell-housing (where it collects in a pool).

Finally, have a look at the hoses to the heater. These have a few joints and any of those can leak. Follow it up inside the car - if the matrix itself or the heater shut-off valve is leaking you will have coolant dripping into the car. Feel around at the end of the passenger floorwell for any dampness (or pink stains). Hopefully you won't have a leaky matrix.. :eek:

Ralf S.
 
Hi Ralf thanks for your help I will have a look tomorrow and post if I find anything :)
 
Don't forget the radiator itself. Mine had a small leak on the passenger side which was hardly noticeable for a long time as the coolant evaporated rather than dripping down onto the floor. Eventually the leak got worse and coolant dripped out onto the ground. A smell of antifreeze near the radiator after a run suggests this problem.
 
I'd have said check the radiator and the thermostat too.

If a hose fails it tends to be pretty obvious when they go, unless it's a leaky union.

The problem with these things is the system doesn't really work fully until the car is up to temp and the thermostat has opened up, by which time everything is nice and hot so minor leaks can evaporate before you get chance to trace the leak down.
 
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