Loosing Coolant - No Obvious Leaks...

[X4MGS]

Happy New Year Guys & Gals....

I have an issue with the Wife's 8V Digi...

Had it a couple of Months now and it's been running like a dream.... I did a G12 fluid change when it arrived and all been good until the last couple of days...

She (the Wfe) has been using to for short trips too & from work and she told me the Temp light has been flashing on the dash...

Gave it a good once over and couldn't see anything wrong other than the fluid needed topping up... Did hat and it took about 1L to top it up.. Bleed it and all fine, until yesterday and she said the light was on again...

Checked it again and topped it up AGAIN....

I've checked all the pipes they look fine...
Rad look's like its not been in long....
Same with the water pump....
Heater is Working and the pass side carpet is dry so ruled out the matrix...
Oil Is Nice and Black...

So I'm at a loss as to where it losing all the coolant...

Any Suggestions Welcome....

[RaulCarnahan]

Could very likely be headgasket, get it checked.

[X4MGS]

Could very likely be headgasket, get it checked.

Wouldn't the oil be creamy if it was the head gasket?

How can you check? Will there be any Obvious Sign's to check??

[siddleg]

Happy new year to you too mate 

Yes you can check remove the oil filler that should be creamy if you have a problem, remove spark plugs and check there condition or pop into your local mot center and have them pop there exhaust co meter in the expansion tank should have no trace. You would also be suffering from cold start problems when car had been standing over night if head gasket had gone.

Also check you header tank cap it can leak while your driving try putting a new one on

[X4MGS]

Happy new year to you too mate 

Yes you can check remove the oil filler that should be creamy if you have a problem, remove spark plugs and check there condition or pop into your local mot center and have them pop there exhaust co meter in the expansion tank should have no trace. You would also be suffering from cold start problems when car had been standing over night if head gasket had gone.

Also check you header tank cap it can leak while your driving try putting a new one on

Checked the oil via the dip stick... Nice and black...
Car starts a treat... 1st time every time...

I'll try another coolant cap got a few knocking around!!

Ta for the info....

[Seanl]

Have a look around the thermostat housing. You probably won't see any of the White crystal signs because of it's location from a look round from above the bay. They can become brittle and crack if tightened a bit too much after a stat change for example, or the seal could just be old and perished

[walchy01]

Ken

You tried it both running at temp and turned off/cooling down? had it before that when there was no pressure pumping water around there was no leak, start it up and get it to temp with water moving around and then it started to drip, just a thought.....Just seen a minor leak on mine on the front of the engine, think its called the Outlet Elbow, black plastic, really minor water loss but glad i spotted it before it gets worse...
Hope you sort it pal

[jmsheahan]

Could very likely be headgasket, get it checked.

Wouldn't the oil be creamy if it was the head gasket?

How can you check? Will there be any Obvious Sign's to check??

Not necessarily. When the HG went on mine it never let go properly, all signs were normal, just coolant loss. Was only when sniff testing it did a combustion leak show. Sounds like you've done the obvious but as above check the water outlets, especially the one on the side of the head.

Failing that get yourself a test kit ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNIVERSAL-CYLINDER-HEAD-COMBUSTION-LEAK-BLOCK-TESTER-/250914435715?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3a6baa7283 ) which will show the leak up quickly by the dye changing colour. A compression test may also help diagnose what is going on and pinpoint where/if it has gone.

Good luck.

[X4MGS]

Could very likely be headgasket, get it checked.

Wouldn't the oil be creamy if it was the head gasket?

How can you check? Will there be any Obvious Sign's to check??

Not necessarily. When the HG went on mine it never let go properly, all signs were normal, just coolant loss. Was only when sniff testing it did a combustion leak show. Sounds like you've done the obvious but as above check the water outlets, especially the one on the side of the head.

Failing that get yourself a test kit ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNIVERSAL-CYLINDER-HEAD-COMBUSTION-LEAK-BLOCK-TESTER-/250914435715?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3a6baa7283 ) which will show the leak up quickly by the dye changing colour. A compression test may also help diagnose what is going on and pinpoint where/if it has gone.

Good luck.

Ken

You tried it both running at temp and turned off/cooling down? had it before that when there was no pressure pumping water around there was no leak, start it up and get it to temp with water moving around and then it started to drip, just a thought.....Just seen a minor leak on mine on the front of the engine, think its called the Outlet Elbow, black plastic, really minor water loss but glad i spotted it before it gets worse...
Hope you sort it pal

Have a look around the thermostat housing. You probably won't see any of the White crystal signs because of it's location from a look round from above the bay. They can become brittle and crack if tightened a bit too much after a stat change for example, or the seal could just be old and perished

Thanks Guys...

Will have a play with it tomorrow as we are both off work so will stick it on a pair of stands and get under it....

[dadrathers]

You replied to me about my dead clocks and then you said that you had sorted your Mrs' clocks out by ensuring a good earth. One of the symptons of clocks on the way out is the temp warning light flashing. In both sets of my clocks when the rev counter stops working the temp warning light flashes. Sometimes it flashes the standard three times and the revs drop and pick up again.

When it next does it, stop the car, pull fuse 21  second from right (iirc) and see if that stops it. Can be done with car running also.

Better then a head gasket?