Dear all
I notice that my engine coolant evaporates really quickly on either extended journeys, or on motorways when the engine is extended.
I lost half a tankful in covering 80 miles on the motorway on Saturday.
My current coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water - nothing special.
Is there anything that I need to use specifically?
It doesn't sound normal to me that I have to keep topping up quite regularly - once a month.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 09/12/2008 at 10:11
|
|
Have you checked to make sure its not an internal leak such a head gasket failure?
|
|
Could be an internal leak, external leak, or simply a faulty cap which is not holding pressure and is leaking steam. It's a closed system and if in good order will not lose any water to speak of.
Edited by Hamsafar on 08/12/2008 at 14:11
|
As it is a closed system if there is any air stuck it could be forcing the water out of the overflow. Worth checking to see if you can see any water staining from the overflow to confirm or rule out.
The losses you speak of are out of tolerance and need looking into
Carse
|
I suspect that the cap hasn't been tight enough.
I have really tightened it and will monitor it.
If it loses water quickly again, I'll get it looked at.
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
If you've got a Kent/Valencia/HCS/Endura-E 1.0/1.1/1.3/1.4 engine (delete as appropriate) then wriggle the water pump pulley at the top of the engine to check for play and dampness on the underside of the pulley. Small leaks can quickly get quite nasty.
Also check that your hoses aren't perished, especially if they're 32 years old.
Most caps are "tight enough" when you can't unscrew them with your middle finger and thumb - don't kid youself it's that.
|
|
What about the 1.6 engines-Kent and CVH.
|
Indeed the 1.4 was a typo for 1.6. CVH pump will be halfway down the block under the timing cover.
Of course this is all speculation - someone could have dropped in an old pre-crossflow 25 years ago and nobody's noticed ...
|
1.25L 16V Chicane here.
All we want now is the year and we'll have a full house !
Edited by Pugugly on 08/12/2008 at 22:16
|
1997!
Getting a bit long-in-the-tooth!
|
|
|
|
|
If someone can DROP a pre-crossflow in they'd be very clever-engine mounts are in totally wrong place.
|
If the absolute worst had happened, what would I be looking at spending to repair it?
Bear in mind that this problem has persisted since my last service last February when no fault was found - a water pump was replaced is all.
I will need 4 new tyres in February too so it might be worth changing cars.
|
>>Bear in mind that this problem has persisted since my last service last February when no fault was found - a water pump was replaced is all.
Aahh!
Was it suitably bled?
No criticism, just a general question.
|
|
|
CarNovice28,
Have you looked under the bonnet whilst the engine is running? I.e. when you come back from work - leave it running, open the bonnet and look for leaks, or deposit's on the hoses/joints. The top and bottom radiator hoses should be warm. Mind your fingers from the fan - will kick in when the engine gets hot.
Look under the car too - might be some drips/dribbles to spot.
Worst case I guess is the head gasket - but lots of other things to check first.
James
|
|
Seem to recall core plug leakage being possible. Has this been checked out?
|
Left engine running tonight and had a look above and below the car for leaks etc.
Nothing!
The fan is rattly though but no leaks that I could see.
I will monitor how long it is taking the antifreeze to evaporate. I topped up on Monday morning.
|
|
My Escort is coming upto nine years old;never had to touch the coolant.
|
|
|
>I will monitor how long it is taking the antifreeze to evaporate. I topped up on Monday morning.
let us know then. Odd. If there are no leaks then it must be there somewhere?
> I topped up on Monday
was the level down in the coolant tank?
Next check! have you looked in the oil filler cap? Is it black (just oil) or is there mayonaise there? (water & oil)
I assume that the coolant tank hasn't got oil in it?
James
|
The oil is fine.
Couldn't see any oil in the coolant tank either.
The level was down in the tank after my weekend jaunt on the motorway. I topped it up on Monday morning when it was below minimum and I was lucky that I checked it.
I have tightened the coolant cap as far as it'll comfortably go as it might have been steam escaping.
|
Nothing lost in one week. Guess the cap wasn't tight enough on the coolant tank.
Will keep monitoring.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
