where is my coolant going??????

[jords]

as above, im hoping someone can help...

my car is basically drinking its coolant, or at least losing it somewhere, and i can't for the life of me see the problem. Every 2-3 weeks it drops slightly and then maybe a month before its at minimum level or slightly lower and needs topping up.

Ive been to my mechanic who's given it a check over, and he advised that it is most likely the head gasket. but I'm struggling to believe him as its done this for the entire 4 years i've owned it, and i don't drive it gently....

anyone got any ideas?

thanks.

 

[ROBIN]

First things first, if it was your head gasket then you would notice white mayo like substance on teh dipstick.

Secondly if your only losing that small amount over that period you have probably got a leak from teh rad somewhere, i have a strange one too, but got to the bottom of it, my rad has a tiny hole init, bit its fine when driving and fine when the engine is warm and there is pressure in teh system as soon as the pressuare falls and the car get cold the water starts to drip out of this hole, radweld don't work on this problem as it needs to be warm to work and it only leaks when cold, i have just bougt a rad off of kee on here and now my problem should be sorted!

cheers

robin

Fiat Marea Weekend 2.0 20v HLX 147 83k and so far so good!

Down & Out Stickers available only here bravo and marea weekend only £5 incl delivery

 

[Sven]

First of all fiats love to keep their own max line of coolant , second, if you are loosing coolant and dont see where or it isnt under the motor my first bet would be the heater matrix, so check it.

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[Anonymous Coward]

are you checking it correctly? should be checked at running temperature if you fill it above the max line it will chuck it out. level should be midway between the min-max at running temp. if checked when cold it will be well below these marks. quite normal, it will rise when correct temerature is reached

 

[andy]

i think you will find you check it when cold and it should be between min and max and of course on a level ground
and as sven said they do tend to pick there own level
i always check mine and used to top it up to max and it always sits half way between the min & max after a few days but doesnt go any lower so i tend to leave it now half way between the two but check it once a week

 

[Mike]

ive always checked mine when stone cold,before i go to use it that day.(Like earlier on today when i checked all the liquids),water was just above min mark so i topped it up to max.Cant remember when i last checked it but its all good

*Need to get some of it out soon tho and put some antifreeze in.

 

[jords]

thanks for the advice guys.

Ive had a suspicion it might have been something to do with the radiator, so i will have to give it a thorough inspection.

as for the possibility of the heater matrix, does this mean it is more likely to lose coolant when the heaters are on as opposed to when they're not on at all? Only reason being in summer when it is warmer i dont use the heaters at all, but the issue i have stays exactly the same and the time period remains roughly the same too.

thanks again for your replys.

 

[Sven]

The heater is always ON - you just close a lid that lets the air go through the heater matrix, so no matter if you use heating or not its the same. Take the plate that is in line with the centre console off and see for leeks - more info in the repair guide section.

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[Paul]

hg failure doesn't always result in mayo - if the leak goes directly to a cylinder it just goes straight out the tailpipe as steam, i know as it happened to me. when it really failed i left a james bond smoke screen on the m6....oops!
also re the small hole in a rad, it probably is leaking when warm but evaporating away
before you see it so rad weld might have done the trick, but a new rad is a much better cure!

 

[jords]

thanks again guys, will be having a serious look once i get chance. kinda hoping its the matrix, as they are a lot cheaper than a new radiator!

 

[Will]

Best bet is to stick some cardboard under it over night, pull it out on a morn and see where it is coming from, that should help diagnose it. Hopefully it isn't the Coolant hose of death going, cause that could be a nightmare to replace!

 

[jordon]

will, please tell me more of this 'coolant hose of death'?

I've checked it many times before when it has been dry with no noticeable puddles, but the coolant doesnt go down when the car is not driven. Last year when i took the car of the road for a few months it didnt go down at all?

thanks

 

[Anonymous Coward]

if your coolant does not go below the minimum you have nothing to worry about.

 

[Mike]

theres probably nothing wrong with your car.from what you said it doesnt go much below minimum..dont forget cars DO use water ya know lol and do need topping up here and there

 

[jords]

The coolant level has dropped to below the min mark before, but im not sure how much it will go down to. I presume it will keep disappearing until theres nothing left, but ive never let it get that serious i always top it up when its getting low.