I have been losing water from my expansion tank, thinking it was the head gasket i have sent it off to be repaired. It was given a compression test today and had good compression across all 4 cylinders..........so why am i loosing water?

it hasnt over heated
its not leaking out from any where

i just dont know??

Water can't just escape, there has to be a leak somewhere!

It will be leaking from somewhere, possibly water pump. Did the garage you sent it to not do a full check.

Have you been bleeding it when topping up?

Cheers

PD

well he is doing a full check today he just wanted to show me it wasnt the head gasket to begin with...

i know squirells have been in there eating my hoses so i have had the one from the expansion tank replaced and fuel line done.

We went over it when it was here and cant find and sign for it coming out anywhere, i did have alot of exhaust vapor tho didnt smell of coolant tho.

A steamy exhaust at this time of year is not an issue.

Cheers

PD

When i first got my 899cc i lost the whole expansion tank on more than 1 occasion, I then refilled it and bled it using the bleed screw behind the drivers headlight untill it ran with no bubbles, have not lost an ounce since.

well have had confirmation now head gasket is on its way out but was to early to be picked up by a compression test :-(

so its going to betaken apart head skimmed and back together. should be able to have it back next week

Its kind of reassuring to know that the garage was trying to talk you out of major work like your head gasket, and actually doing some diagnostic work. What was the final test used that confirmed head gasket failure, chemical combustion or pressure test to 1bar.

goodgirl156 said:

well he is doing a full check today he just wanted to show me it wasnt the head gasket to begin with...

i know squirells have been in there eating my hoses so i have had the one from the expansion tank replaced and fuel line done.

We went over it when it was here and cant find and sign for it coming out anywhere, i did have alot of exhaust vapor tho didnt smell of coolant tho.

Click to expand...

Don't worry about the squirells any more, the coolant would of done its job

Ming

Ming watch out you will have the animal wefare people knocking at your door, even if they are all just rat's dressed up in fur coats:idea:

Grey ones are rats, red ones are cute.

Cheers

PD

Sounds almost exactly like what happened to me although you got it slightly earier as mine started chugging.
Rallycinq sorry to let you down but am not doing it myself Garage that ahs done other little bits on ym car sorting the headgasket including getting it skimmed and doing a cam belt change for £280. £80 parts alone so felt this was a fair price.
Other garages quoting £400

Thats a good price, providing you've got the extra £200.

£200 buys a lot of tools that would come in useful in the future.

Its your money to spend as you wish.

Cheers

PD

I dont quite understand how the garage can turn around and say that they prformed a pressure test and all cylinders were ok.
Did they do a leak down test.
So if all the cylinders were ok and were within limits , how can they say the head gasket is on its way out..
Did they say that your exhaust will get a hole in it in exactly 7 months and 3 days , seems a bit dodge to me but hey,
Check for obvious leaks first and check you have the correct ratio of water anti freeze to as if not water will evaporate.

A leak down test is preferable to a compression test, however a water pressure and combustion test is the gold standard and will quickly establish if there is a problem with the head gasket or if water is being forced out elseware. I take it for granted that a visual check shows no white cristline deposits around the hoses/ rad or heater matrix. The original post does not state the amount of water loss over a given time, if it is very slow loss it could easy be from elseware, and a pressure test would confirm this. I find it odd that any seriuos garage does not invest in the correct diagnostic equipment. Proper diagnostic equipment hightens customer satisfaction and increased profit through non wasted garage time.

a combustion test was done after the pressure check on the head. the compression test come back good but the combustion test didn't, its very early onset of HG failure, but its there. lucky for me its not managed to overheat or use all its water

i believe the head is already off the car and photos will be taken for me any how. im hoping to get back the car on Tuesday (depends how long it takes to get skimed and presure tested

its the same person who took on sam's Bravo HGT for a engine change after the bottom end went causing substantial damage to the hole engine,

we more than trust him and would really recommend him to any one as he is a top bloke (deals with fiat coupes usaly)