Technical coolant level dropped

[matty23]

Hi guys,

Bit of a strange one. As you know, the coolant is in a sealed unit and shouldn't escape however after months of knowing my coolant has remained at the MAX point, I decided today to check it, only to find it was about 2cm below MAX. Not a big difference, I know, but still enough to stun me.

Just to add, the vehicle was parked on a level, not facing up/down hill throwing out the level. There was no visible ''pink'' staining on or around the coolant piping. The cabin windscreen doesn't steam up and the cabin doesn't smell sweet (normally a sign of a leaking heater matrix). The radiator appears to be very clean and the cambelt area is dry (no sign of the water pump leaking). The water pump is only 1 year old and I did suffer with it leaking just after it was fitted, but now it's sorted.

My hope is that the cap might not have been on properly, I only turn it clock wise until I hear the click, that I believe is normal.

Any help is appreciated as always.

Regards,
Matt.

 

[varesecrazy]

just watch the levels,


any doubts get a system pressure test done,

Charlie

 

[matty23]

Thanks Varesecrazy,

It just seems odd. I'll see how it goes.

Matt.

 

[Sweetsixteen]

If you check the level, make sure that you always check it with similar engine temperatures.
When cold, the level will be lower than when hot - 2cm difference is normal.

 

[matty23]

Hi Sweetsixteen,

I always check the coolant level the next day, before the vehicle has been driven. So the vehicle has been sat at least 10 hours.

I check the oil at the same time as well.

Matt.

 

[SB1500]

Did you check your oil? If there's cream / mayo looking stuff that could mean a leak in the head gasket (2cm of coolant could have gotten into the oil, mixing with the oil and creating this cream like substance). That's how to check for that particular problem as far as I'm aware. Losing coolant is a sign of that (but its also a sign of many things so don't panic).

Perhaps alternatively, a pipe/hose has come loose somewhere in the engine bay? This would likely mean it coolant to drop however if its a constant leak.

Hope you get to the bottom of this. Like you, I check my Panda weekly for this stuff and I just hope the day the coolant drops never happens!

Some excellent knowledge is on this forum so hold tight and you might get more answers / possible diagnosis!

 

[matty23]

Hi SB1500,

I didn't check the oil cap but I did check the oil (via dipstick) and nothing appeared out of place.

Matt

 

[varesecrazy]

Is your coolent RED or BLUE?

 

[matty23]

red. The OAT antifreeze type.

Matt.

 

[varesecrazy]

look for reddish stains around the engine front of car ( from leaks)

the older BLUE coolant left white crystals..at leaky joints.

 

[matty23]

Thanks Varesecrazy,

I've had a look around the pipes but I couldn't see any pink staining.

Matt.

 

[SB1500]

Hi SB1500,



I didn't check the oil cap but I did check the oil (via dipstick) and nothing appeared out of place.



Matt

Try the oil cap as I believe this is where the build up would occur if it is happening.

For a bit of background, my mothers Astra is loaded with that junk from a leaking head gasket (she doesn't care for some reason..) but the dipstick still looks fine / brownish black oil and the right level.

 

[varesecrazy]

Try the oil cap as I believe this is where the build up would occur if it is happening.

For a bit of background, my mothers Astra is loaded with that junk from a leaking head gasket (she doesn't care for some reason..) but the dipstick still looks fine / brownish black oil and the right level.

Think of the lid of a kettle/ saucepan. It is water vapour condensating at the TOP metal structure...the cam cover...there is a metal baffle in there that gets choked with the oil/water mixed MAYO

Charlie

 

[matty23]

I've checked the oil cap and it's full of oil residue, no mayo signs at all. I even gave the oil cap a wipe to see the exact colour, no different from the dipstick.

I checked the coolant colour too, still a lovely pink/red colour.

I read some info about 'trapped air' within the system, to start the car, warm it up, allow the coolant fan to circulate twice with the coolant cap removed.

Matt.

 

[A3jeroen]

And the heater full open.

gr J

 

[Sweetsixteen]

On reflection I think you're worrying about nothing.For coolant to drop 2cm in the header tank over six months is not abnormal, depending on how the car is used.
If its use is lightly loaded long steady journeys in moderate ambient temperatures you would expect very little loss of coolant. If the car load varies, the ambient temperatures change significantly and your journeys are short or through hilly/trafficked terrain, then a steady loss of coolant can be expected.
2cm in the header tank is a very small amount of coolant. Just monitor it and sleep easy.

 

[matty23]

Hi, thank-you for comments.

Since buying our Panda in January 2015 with 8,000 miles on the clock, we have clocked up a fair few miles as the car recently reached 24,000 miles. We do a lot of motorway miles and it's only a 1.2 petrol remember, not the 1.3 m'jet.

I checked the coolant level last night and it was fine, it hadn't dropped.

Matt.

 

[SB1500]

On reflection I think you're worrying about nothing.For coolant to drop 2cm in the header tank over six months is not abnormal, depending on how the car is used.
If its use is lightly loaded long steady journeys in moderate ambient temperatures you would expect very little loss of coolant. If the car load varies, the ambient temperatures change significantly and your journeys are short or through hilly/trafficked terrain, then a steady loss of coolant can be expected.
2cm in the header tank is a very small amount of coolant. Just monitor it and sleep easy.

^ this is a very good point. Depends on your journey type.

Just keep an eye on it and report back if you continue to notice any strange signs? Even if you think it's in your head - I've had so much peace of mind from posting to the forum!

 

[scott gilmour95]

Mine only dropped slightly and head had gone take out spark plug number one and see how clean the cylinder is

 

[matty23]

Hi,

Surely if the head gasket had failed on my car wouldn't the coolant be darker, the oil have a mayonnaise coating on the cap?

The temperature gauge on our car sticks at 90 degrees on the temperature, never rises or lowers once warmed up. The car behaves fine with no signs of overheating.

Matt.

Just to add, I've just popped out now to check the oil and coolant levels. Both are fine and I even checked around the top of the engine for oil leaks as I believe the cam cover needs to be removed every 2 years or so. Anyhow, no leaks from there even though the cam tappets might need adjustment since it's becoming a little ''tappety''