Technical Coolant falling after replacing radiator

[A3jeroen]

If you fill it cold to the max mark a lot will go out of the overflow. Cold to the min mark has always worked for me in 30+ years of Fiat.

gr J

 

[ahmett]

If you fill it cold to the max mark a lot will go out of the overflow. Cold to the min mark has always worked for me in 30+ years of Fiat.

gr J

Good idea. Yeah I can't remember the last time my coolant has ever stabilised at the max level, thanks for letting me know. Just checked it again it is sitting just below the Min mark. I usually drive for about 2-3 hours a day in town with the AC mostly on full as it's quite hot, so cooling system getting quite a work out. No indications of overheating at all

 

[ahmett]

Whoops haha

 

[steveras57]

It might be a good idea to get hold of the hose that runs from the thermostat to the heater matrix and give it a gentle wiggle right near the thermostat end! .
If its still an original stat the outlet pipe is plastic and after many heat cycles cracks causing a near impossible to trace loss of coolant , sooner of later it WILL!!! shear off causing sudden catastrophic coolant loss and potential head gasket failure!.
If you wiggle it and it breaks off you swear a bitthen fit an aftermarket thermostat with a metal outlet which totally cures the problem !, once the jobs done you then relax and think "thank god i caught that BEFORE it blew" sit back have a beer disaster avoided!.

 

[ahmett]

It might be a good idea to get hold of the hose that runs from the thermostat to the heater matrix and give it a gentle wiggle right near the thermostat end! .
If its still an original stat the outlet pipe is plastic and after many heat cycles cracks causing a near impossible to trace loss of coolant , sooner of later it WILL!!! shear off causing sudden catastrophic coolant loss and potential head gasket failure!.
If you wiggle it and it breaks off you swear a bitthen fit an aftermarket thermostat with a metal outlet which totally cures the problem !, once the jobs done you then relax and think "thank god i caught that BEFORE it blew" sit back have a beer disaster avoided!.

My mechanic is literally getting bored of seeing me haha I always drive by with one niggle or another

My other car is a 4 year old Cooper S the only work I had to do on it was replace the engine mounts that failed and that was done with warranty. Nonetheless I did buy an extended warranty as when they break it isn’t a Fiat level 200 GBP fix it’s more in the 4 figures

 

[ahmett]

Ok there was a small leak at the connection here with the thermostat he tightened it. He said if coolant goes down again he will replace the hose connecting the reservoir tank and the thermostat

Also replaced the cap since he had a spare one on him!

I’ll check the level and add some later as he opened the cap when engine hot so some coolant overfilled and came out anyway and after that if it goes down below minimum I will get that hose replaced

 

[ahmett]

So far so good drove for over an hour over 3 drives and no noticeable loss of coolant ! Will keep on looking but that looks solved to me for now

Thanks everyone for the tips!

I’ve resolved to keep on driving this car till it is no longer repairable I’m at 151,000 miles

 

[steveras57]

So far so good drove for over an hour over 3 drives and no noticeable loss of coolant ! Will keep on looking but that looks solved to me for now

Thanks everyone for the tips!

I’ve resolved to keep on driving this car till it is no longer repairable I’m at 151,000 miles

5 miles to go then!

 

[ahmett]

5 miles to go then!

Actually it is still leaking a bit around 100 ml every 2-3 hours of driving. So got it checked again and there was another leak from the cabin by the heater matrix ? The thing behind the accelerator pedal as attached. So will get that replaced next week at 130 euros. Will still drive normally until then just will keep an eye on coolant levels and top up if necessary