Is it normal? Coolant system....

[nicky.mattsson]

Hi all

I have had a long runnign coolant system issue with my 1.8 '96 Mk1.

I have replaced all coolant hoses, rad cap, CAS 'O' ring, cam gasket and waterpump. I am hoping this has fixed my problem.

In the morning before i go to work the coolant level in the reservoir is around 3-4cm below the full line, when i get to work the level has gone UP to the full line. After my shift when the car is cold it has returned to 3-4cm below the full line.

Question is: Is the coolant level going up and down like this normal behaviour or does it point to something more sinister?

Cheers

[Silent1]

Yes it's fine, it's the water expanding as it heats.

[nicky.mattsson]

Thank christ for that. I think the problem may, at last, be fixed........ I hope

[NiceCupOfTea]

Sounds about right.

I have to say though, all the talk of "bulletproof" MX-5s, I think the cooling system is a slight weakness on these cars.

I have had no end of problems with mine - since I have had the car it's had a new radiator, new waterpump, new top hose, new bottom hose, new heater hose, new thermostat, 2 new radiator caps, been flushed 5 or 6 times, and I still don't trust it 100% and have fitted a proper temperature gauge.

Maybe it was because mine was neglected, but there seem to be a lot of cooling system related problems if you search the forums.

[MrV]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Sounds about right.

I have to say though, all the talk of "bulletproof" MX-5s, I think the cooling system is a slight weakness on these cars.

I have had no end of problems with mine - since I have had the car it's had a new radiator, new waterpump, new top hose, new bottom hose, new heater hose, new thermostat, 2 new radiator caps, been flushed 5 or 6 times, and I still don't trust it 100% and have fitted a proper temperature gauge.

Maybe it was because mine was neglected, but there seem to be a lot of cooling system related problems if you search the forums.

Are we driving the same car as that is almost identical to what I have replaced and I still get a random mystery vanishing of coolant from time to time

[NiceCupOfTea]

Black Mk.1 S-Spec?

[JFReturns]

Is your system full of coolant or diluted with water?

[MX-5 Lazza]

NiceCupOfTea said:

I have had no end of problems with mine - since I have had the car it's had a new radiator, new waterpump, new top hose, new bottom hose, new heater hose, new thermostat, 2 new radiator caps, been flushed 5 or 6 times, and I still don't trust it 100% and have fitted a proper temperature gauge.

And still the engine hasn't died! Sounds like a bullet-proof engine to me, that would have killed a lot of other engines

[Odie]

My car dropped all its coolant (never figured out how, no leaks in the system) at motorway speeds and the temperature gauge went off its head. Engines still fine.

[Sam_68]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Sounds about right.

I have to say though, all the talk of "bulletproof" MX-5s, I think the cooling system is a slight weakness on these cars.

I have had no end of problems with mine - since I have had the car it's had a new radiator, new waterpump, new top hose, new bottom hose, new heater hose, new thermostat, 2 new radiator caps, been flushed 5 or 6 times, and I still don't trust it 100% and have fitted a proper temperature gauge.

Maybe it was because mine was neglected, but there seem to be a lot of cooling system related problems if you search the forums.

I've replaced the hoses, rad cap and waterpump on mine (hoses were perished and one had a pinhole leak, waterpump was leaking and I just didn't like the look of the rubber seal on the rad cap), but to be honest I wouldn't regard that as particularly indicative of a weakness on a 20-year old car. Nothing lasts forever?

[vrooom]

I have same problem. i finally traded it to lower coolant pipe.. pin hole leak that expand when the engine is hot and coolant is in under pressure.