Technical lost some coolant over a long trip

[flisko]

i went on a trip and made around 1500km, before i went on a long journey i checked antifreeze level, and it was between low and min and when i came back it dropped to few cm above min
car works the same as it did before, no loss of power, no mayo under oil filler cap, no smoke out of exhaust, no leaks

antifreeze was changed on 6.2.2013 with yellow one

so i was wondering why the sudden loss of coolant

 

[KRaikkonenNo1]

If no visible leaks, then maybe you have air in the system, air locks can cause the coolant level to read inaccurately -- high then low,

Did you check the level in the same conditions, I.e. cold car, not on a hill , etc

 

[flisko]

car was cold in both occasions, i also noticed temp gauge isnt sitting on middle like it was before, could be bad thermostat, unless air inside will cause that

 

[homeward]

car was cold in both occasions, i also noticed temp gauge isnt sitting on middle like it was before, could be bad thermostat, unless air inside will cause that

I'd be tempted to change the 'stat. (It may not solve it: but it's a first step....) An airlock will make the temperature gauge fluctuate all over the place. But if the temperature is steady (even if it's not in the middle), the thermostat is the usual culprit... -- and they tend to fail as the external temperature starts dropping (with the leaves). :idea:

Lots of crappy ones around in white boxes. The consensus seems to be that even FIAT-branded ones aren't much cop (I certainly had that experience); but that Gates ones are the best (my current one...).

 

[fingers99]

If the level has dropped, either the coolant is going somewhere (leak, head gasket) or it wasn't there in the first place (air in system).

For now, just keep an eye on it.

 

[flisko]

gauge is fluctuating, never rly going on middle unless car is stationary, and when car starts moving it drops below middle

 

[fingers99]

I'd not worry overmuch about the gauge -- it'll obviously creep up when stationary until the fan kicks in.

Find the leak and/or bleed the system.

 

[homeward]

I'd not worry overmuch about the gauge...

If you've got MES, etc., then you can see what the actual temperature is: but it does sound like air is getting in somewhere.

Mind you, air locks can take a while to show.... I had my car serviced a few days before MITcar; drove all the way there and back again, and the gauge was fine. Next morning, it was all over the place. Sorted with the usual trick of opening both bleed screws; topping up with 50/50 coolant into the expansion tank, until the back one starts seeping (at which point you tighten it up); then the front one....

Still worth changing the stat, though, as a precaution.... :idea:

 

[flisko]

filled it up and no air came out, looks like ****ed up thermostat

 

[fingers99]

Yeah, but won't explain the drop in coolant level.

 

[flisko]

so what could be the other reason than head gasket and air for the coolant level to drop

 

[awkward666]

Could be rocker cover gasket I had problems like that in a old punto I had changed that worked fine but may have been coincidence worth a go tho if nothing else works

 

[atom0007]

Could be rocker cover gasket I had problems like that in a old punto I had changed that worked fine but may have been coincidence worth a go tho if nothing else works

it's a water, not an oil leak

 

[oldhammer]

:d

 

[GrandeGuy]

My car was using coolant, 0 drips, 0 puddles.
I pressurised it from cold with a foot pump and a very fine mist was coming from the rad jubilee clip, one turn with a screw driver and sorted

 

[flisko]

My car was using coolant, 0 drips, 0 puddles.
I pressurised it from cold with a foot pump and a very fine mist was coming from the rad jubilee clip, one turn with a screw driver and sorted

mhm havent checked that

 

[flisko]

took it off donor car boiled it in pan and it may appear it works, but little liquid comes through that hole- look pic, is that normal?

 

[oldhammer]

Put a new one on....


Scrooooge.

 

[fingers99]

By pass hole is normal. Fit a new one -- then find out where the goddamn water is going before you kill the car!

 

[lukekazi]

There's a plastic flange on the intake manifold that the coolant temp sensor sits in, mine had a small crack in it & no visible water leak but had similar issues to yours.