coolant loss

[map-man]

ok guys, suggestions please as to a possible cause.

I'm losing coolant, the expansion bottle level is creeping up over time but not quickly and not by the same amount as I'm topping up with, no sign of mayo on the oil cap and it runs fine without any smoke indicating no water in the oil or oil/water getting into the cylinders so hopefully it ain't the head gasket. No indication of oil in the rad or expansion bottle either. The only signs I've had this weekend is when it's working hard  70-75mph the temp gauge crept up a little and there was a slight drop in power although we we're heading into a strong headwind on a pretty hilly run over the penines. Dropping back down to 55-60mph and the gauge droped back to normal again -  at this point it took about a litre in the rad and then all has been fine again and the temp gauge has been rock steady all the time even at constant motorway speeds. I've had to top it up a few times, possibly 2.5-3ltres over the last 1000miles or so. Heaters in front and back have been working as normal although I have wiffed coolant once or twice but that might have been from my hands.....

I've not noticed any leaks in the engine bay so I'm wondering if it could be something as simple as the rad cap or possibly heater pipes to the rear heater have been knocked whilst off roading although there are no obvious leaks underneath when it's been left parked for a while. Carpets aren't wet so hopefully the heater matrix is ok.

Any ideas?? 

[JohnMac]

head gasket? Or how about a leak in the water pump... could be a small one which leaks more under pressure... mine used a bit of a coolant before i replaced the pump, now it doesnt use any (it shouldnt really)....

[joker777]

Well mate i'd check, top hose, expansion bottle seal, rad cap, water pump and finaly head gasket, the 2.8's dont seam to have the same problem with thes as the 2.5's though so i wouldnt worry just yet.

[cobraman]

it sounds as if you need to change your rad cap first as they can go weak over time and could be letting water through under hard driving

[Chastiser]

an airlock could be making it chuck out water too.

Mike

[TinyTim]

Rad cap or the gasket on the expansion bottle tank

[craig]

Chuck in some radweld.  The Peugeot was loosing water on a regular basis when I got it, threw in a bottle of radweld and it's not lost a drop in the 3000 miles I've done since

[LePaj]

check simple and cheap things first - is your rad clean? remove it and give it a wash (hose pipe - not pressure washer), if you've been off roading then it's bound to be clogged up 

[vain]

Mine was losing a litre or so every month and i couldnt find anything until on day after work there was a big damp patch under the front which turned out to be the water pump. After i changed that it hasnt lost any and my heaters are roasting again. dunno about the level rising tho, maybe an air lock?

[joecole2384]

an airlock could be making it chuck out water too.

Mike

it was a big airlock that caused my problems the other week after I changed the top hose on my musso. I can also smell coolant and lose a little but only when I have the heater running so I suspect a heater hose minor leak

[map-man]

Thanks guys, I'll pop a new rad cap and coolant bottle seal on it and then check for an airlock. Might be worth chucking a new water pump and thermostat in as well if it continues as 'something' on the front is noisy not been sure if it's the power steering pump or air con doodah - could be the water pump I guess..... 

[map-man]

Having given it a good run then checking it straight away I've noticed 2 possible bad hose connections where it's wet so may be my leak(s) have been identified at least - one of the back of the thermostat which looks a bit perished and top rad hose onto the head, I'll pop a couple of new hose clips on and give the whole system a flush and see what happens.

[map-man]

Well 2 new hose clips didn't make any difference but getting the front up in the air and running without the rad cap last week saw loads of bubbles out of the rad so I guess I had an airlock.  Gone to check it tonight after work and the rad is full and the level in the expansion bottle has dropped so I've top the bottle up and hopefully the problem is cured 

[shoggyv6]

finger's crossed for you mate.

[Harvey]

I've had this with 2 vehicles i've owned [two different makes], on the Range Rover it was a porus head. Initially on the Land Cruiser it was a tiny pin prick in a rubber hose at the back of the engine  [a bloody luck find!] which was just a £2 job, however, the third time i noticed this it turned out to be a cracked cylinder head.... everything else about the engine was running fine but i kept on losing water... took the head off and #4 cylinder was the culprit. I don't wanna scare ya but... when all else fails....