Odd coolant temp readings

[adyh]

Radiator ? Small holes in coolant pipes ?

Try some rad weld and see if that clears the problem up .

[Jamie]

Could do I suppose, but the way I am thinking at the moment is that I want it to get worse so I can spot the problem.  Radweld is OK as a quick fix, but I don't want to find myself forgeting about it and remembering again when it truely lets me down on a long journey.  No, sod it, i 'll put some radweld in, that way if is doesn't stop I will know it is one of the hoses.

[Overseer]

When cold the coolant always seems to settle at a low level where its just entering the expansion tank.

maybe you could put some radweld in? (edit: just saw adyh suggested same thing!)



i've heard various methods of making sure that the coolant has no air-locks..
most common seems to be running the engine with the expansion cap off
and putting the rev's up to make it run hot..

[Jamie]

Yep, done all that, used to work well on my mk 2 as it was a pain in the ass for air locks, but I don't think air locks are the problem.
True, it does sit low when cold, but I am talking every 2 weeks the water temp light comes on.  It doesn't just come on for overheating (the gauge is always at 90), but also for low water level.  You'd think having to fill it every 2 weeks would show something leaking, thats why I thought the head gasket had gone, but as I say, nothing in the oil would suggest that, unless its leaking straight out the block and evaporating straight away? Clueless now and just wish it would get worse so I can spot it. Its been like this for 6 or more months.