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Technical A new coolant issue

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Technical A new coolant issue

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wolvescinq

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I've noticed an occasional drop in coolant level lately - 2 short local journies is all it takes to drop the level from half way between min and max down to min. I can see no evidence of an external leak (no patches under the car) which alarms me - head gasket? This was only replaced a year ago!! Any other possibilities?

(Cinq Sporting 1108).
 
Apart from the common HG failure there are a lot of pipes and connections you can check.

On my 2 centos, they failed on the main cooling pipe where it meets the engine block and on the connection near the drain/purge.

You can also have a common problem with the "small lids" that usually perish with rust from the inside. Sorry don't know the name for it in english. The engine as one of those lids under the timming belt cover, some more under the exhaust manifold and others more all around the engine block. They could be losing water there but pointing it to block or other hot part making it evaporate.

Try to check for moist all around the pipes and/or when engine is hot check for vapor coming from under the bonnet.
 
the "small lids" we call core plugs.. they do rust but they usually leave traces.. check the cap on the expansion tank see if its sealing right... if it is then you could always get the coolent system pressure tested before pulling things apart
 
I changed the pressure cap a few days ago - still losing coolant, though. Funny thing though - a few weeks back, I noticed steam/vapour coming from the front of the car (almost seemed to be coming out of the o/s headlight?!) Haven't noticed that lately though. Car's going in on Friday - shall pass your kind suggestions on to mechanic.

Cheers!
 
id also check the condition of the radiator if i was you as you say its coming from the o/s of the engine bay

have a check for mayo on the dipstick or under the oil cap to make sure its not leaking into the oil

I'm not that far away in Telford so i could have a look a the car if you wanted me to

Ash
 
whitz said:
id also check the condition of the radiator if i was you as you say its coming from the o/s of the engine bay

have a check for mayo on the dipstick or under the oil cap to make sure its not leaking into the oil

I'm not that far away in Telford so i could have a look a the car if you wanted me to

Ash
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer - may take you up on it.

If it was the rad, though, wouldn't I be seeing patches on the road? No mayo - touch wood.
 
wolvescinq said:
I've noticed an occasional drop in coolant level lately - 2 short local journies is all it takes to drop the level from half way between min and max down to min. I can see no evidence of an external leak (no patches under the car) which alarms me - head gasket? This was only replaced a year ago!! Any other possibilities?

(Cinq Sporting 1108).
Click to expand...

That may not be enough to show as a drip if it only occurs when the system is at operating pressure/temperature, you need to inspect with the auto up on ramps and the engine still running, and stay away from fan...

The pump and core plugs can leak and are screened. There is an o ring on the metal cross pipe behind the exhaust manifold down pipe, you can burn yourself on this...

Did you do the pump with head gasket, was there rust on the core plug.

If you are using coolant mix you should be able to smell the leak, a bit like burning plastic...

Noel
 
Pep0 said:
That may not be enough to show as a drip if it only occurs when the system is at operating pressure/temperature, you need to inspect with the auto up on ramps and the engine still running, and stay away from fan...

The pump and core plugs can leak and are screened. There is an o ring on the metal cross pipe behind the exhaust manifold down pipe, you can burn yourself on this...

Did you do the pump with head gasket, was there rust on the core plug.

If you are using coolant mix you should be able to smell the leak, a bit like burning plastic...

Noel[/QUOTE

Thanks - more useful info to pass on to garage on Friday. Water pump was replaced with the head gasket 12 mths ago. No mention by mechanic of rusted core plugs, etc. I am getting a smell, though - I put this down to a prior explosion in the heater matrix.
Click to expand...
 
- I put this down to a prior explosion in the heater matrix.[/QUOTE]
:eek: i hope thats an exaggeration :D[/QUOTE]

Not really, I'm afraid - there was a hole in the matrix. Went off one day like an icelandic volcano...
 
Just a quick update - garage couldn't see any obvious leaks last week, but I'm still losing coolant. The edge of the expansion tank is often wet - didn't seem to bother the garage - so somehow water's being forced up through the filler cap. Never seem to lose a load (touch wood) so hoping it's just a case of keeping an eye on the level?
 
Today, I noticed a sizeable wet patch under the car - quite far back, under the back edge of the engine. Went to garage, who gently released the coolant filler cap (that's brand new, by the way) and the coolant level went from nearly on min up to max! They're still saying there's nothing badly wrong, as the level - touch wood - never seems to dip below min. But, surely - coolant shouldn't be forcing its way up through the filler cap, should it? I asked them if there's too much pressure in the system and they sais no - otherwise it would shoot out like a fountain...:bang:
 
As far as I can remember there are one or two core plugs on the backside of the engine. Most of the times, you'll only notice the leaks when engine is hot and running (like someone previously said).

Pressure building up in the tank is normal. When you take the cap off, it's normal the volume of cooling rises a bit on the mark if it's still hot.

Also check the other water pipes running back there and check if the braces are tightened too since you had to mess around with the heater matrix.
 
Thanks guys. Just had to top the coolant up AGAIN (garage said see if it continues to drain away below min, and it had...) I take the point about core plugs/pipes possibly causing the large wet patch under the car recently, but what's with the coolant being forced up through the filler cap?! Is there more than one thing going on here?
 
wolvescinq said:
Thanks guys. Just had to top the coolant up AGAIN (garage said see if it continues to drain away below min, and it had...) I take the point about core plugs/pipes possibly causing the large wet patch under the car recently, but what's with the coolant being forced up through the filler cap?! Is there more than one thing going on here?
Click to expand...
The filler cap is also the pressure release valve.
If you have a leak that drops the pressure to quickly then you may get boiling in the cylinder head passages and a geyser at the pressure cap.
If you fix the leak this 'secondary' problem may go away, or it may be a head gasket.
Please fix the leak...

Noel
 
Pep0 said:
The filler cap is also the pressure release valve.
If you have a leak that drops the pressure to quickly then you may get boiling in the cylinder head passages and a geyser at the pressure cap.
If you fix the leak this 'secondary' problem may go away, or it may be a head gasket.
Please fix the leak...

Noel
Click to expand...

Thanks, but isn't replacing the core plugs - esp. on the back of the engine - a major, expensive job? Also, if it were these and/or various pipes that have been causing the drop in coolant level, why am I not constantly seeing wet patches under the car? If something leaks, it leaks all the time doesn't it? And there are days when nothing appears...
 
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