Coolant issue

[coolchris]

Hi guys
Well one of the jobs to do when i get my car back is to sort my loss off coolant problem.the car looses around 1/2 to a litre a week thats with using the car 3 to 4 times in that period.100% certain not gasket issues had all the pressure test etc done.
It is going somewhere but not sure where.Im thinking has to be rad or pipes? is there something I could be missing?Could it be dodgy expansion tank cap(seems fine to me)The car never runs hot fans kick in at about 87 then drops back to just over 80.should i just replace all pipes,rad,expansion tank etc just to make sure?

Cheers Chris

[Gadgeroonie]

you need to find that leak ! leave it running for ages and try to look for damp areas

it could be a head gasket that is seeping

[Fixanything]

Could be split in radiator but you should see wet patch under car or floor pan after use or the turbo coolent hoses tend to weep, but becuse the engine bay is hot the damp or leaks dry out, you can normally get an indication by checking with fingers around the connections/hose clips. I would have thought the amount of coolant you are losing you should see some sort of witness, if not could be head gasket or crack in head or block however, you would see quite a lot of white smoke/steam when first starting and/or running.

[coolchris]

No steam or smoke car runs fine i suspect it is either the rad or the hoses that run to the turbos.Its been like it for quite a while.I have had rad issues before one was bowed that caused the bars to crack(does not help that its such a tight fit)
Replacement one went on me was weeping along one of the welds..I done a quick fix with some bars leak all was well for a while but the prob is back again.I suspect that the temporary fix has given out.If i get another rad could i put some rubber bungs on the connector sections so that it will have a little bit of give and not be so ridgid when fitted?

[Zoobeef]

Get the cooling system pressure tested. As if the core of the radiator is leaking a bit it'll boil off if the engines hot

[TuxMan]

turbo water hoses are prone to leaking at the turbo ends !!! also the 4 way splitters are very poor as well !!

[Blu3R]

Currently have the same issue. The car ran fine before winter but I knew I had a couple of hoses that were perishing and wanted to replace just those while away in the gaarage.

Have had the system pressure tested and have found at least 4 hoses around the engine either separated (i.e. balooning where the jubilee clip is the only thing stopping it bursting), weeping where the jubilee clip is or perished and seaping from the cracks.
While looking in this area we failed to notice the torrent of water pouring from ALL the hoses at the front end and possibly the drivers side of the rad also.
I currently have the front & rear floor sections off (major PITA as someone has been here before and sealed everything up VERY well ) and am waiting on Tim @ ACT to get me a set (he honoured the previous group buy price albeit with the new VAT rate - in case you need to go the hole hog) from SFS.

Most good mechanics will have a pressure testing kit.

ATB,
Rob

[S B C]

I've had two leaks on my car.

First was a very slight blow out of one of the hose joints. Water hit the engine and evaporated off before hitting the groud so was difficult to trace. Easily solved by tightening up the hose clips around the header tank.

Second was a slight drip from the rear turbo coolant pipe connection. Found when replacing actuators. Easily tightened up.

Chris