Coolant leak issues - NOW FIXED!!! YeeeHaaaa!!!

[MrBounce]

I have a loss of coolant on my '96 Mk3 8v GTi(takes about 100 miles to lose enough fluid from maximum in the expansion tank to the coolant light coming on). The water flange on the side of the head has been replaced (front of the block is fine). I have not had a pressure test done yet (booked in for about 3 weeks time) but I have a few questions to ask:

1) I might have a leaky radiator (bottom right corner as you look at the front of the car?) and if so, how much would I likely have to pay a specialist to replace it?

2) My expansion tank cap is a bit "weird". It doesn't appear to fit properly - it seems cross-threaded and gets very difficult to properly tighten as you can't move it past a certain point. Would this be the reason for the fluid loss, and how much to replace the expansion tank (cap is only about a fiver but I reckon the tank's thread is knackered as I can't see a problem with the lid)?

3) If the radiator is the problem, I am looking to use the car as part-ex for a newer car in August/September so rather than replace the rad is it worthwhile saving some cash and chucking in some radweld or similar as a stopgap til then? I don't use the car for work and only do about 8k per year so don't need it everyday.

Thanks in advance 

[spunkymonkey]

If you dont want to spend much on it i would just try some rad weld. Dont get the actual "RAD WELD", i used to use some stuff (the name escapes me) but it was full of copper fillings. It was about a tenner a bottle but it was the nuts.

[cabbydub]

is your heater ok?

[MrBounce]

is your heater ok?

Heater is fine 

[Din]

I feel the need to reply here..... being used to Rovers and water leaks 

Ok, rad weld style stuff is ok as a temp fix, but i would never bung that crap in my car tbh.

If your expansion cap does not fit properly then you could well be losing coolant from there, if the cap does not hold pressure then the coolant will boil too early and pressure and steam will escape, although you should see evidence of this around the expansion tank and cap.

Why do you ask about a specific place on the rad (is this common on this car) if your rad is leaking then why trade it in for another car ? just replace the rad lol, cant be more that a ton ...

Hmm i just read the post properly, second hand rad if yours is leaking, rad weld i suppose but thats a fair few months for a temp repair imo

[snifferdog]

If you dont want to spend much on it i would just try some rad weld. Dont get the actual "RAD WELD", i used to use some stuff (the name escapes me) but it was full of copper fillings. It was about a tenner a bottle but it was the nuts.

was it 'barrs leak' that stuff is damn good!!

[boneybradley]

It was about a tenner a bottle but it was the nuts.

was it 'barrs leak' that stuff is damn good!!

I was thinking that until I read £10!! but barrs is the daddy normally! (or an egg!  )

[spunkymonkey]

It looked like liquid copper grease. £10 could be way off, im talking 2000-2001 time scale. Many nights sleep since then.

[robblowen]

don't know if you've got same expansion tank as mine, (97 16v) but mine as dumped coolant a couple of times i'm pretty sure theres a leak in the tank itself (it has a seam around the middle, small pin hole in this will allow it to boil out when it gets hot, apparently its common on vauxhals but i guess it could happen on others) if you get it into a garage they will be able to put a trace in your coolant then once its leaked out they put it under uv light n c where the trace has been left. hope this helps.

[MrBounce]

Changed the expansion tank cap and no coolant loss at all after 75 miles. Here's hoping that's all it was. I like fixes that cost no more than £5