Coolant dumped on floor
Discussion
Some advice would be very welcome from anyone sad enough (like me) to be PHing on a Satuday night.
Just dove back from the pub and curry house with a pot of beer and take away. Good mood; prospect of damn good ruby and fine ale.
Put car in garage.... then spotted a pool of coolant on the drive, and a trail into the garage.
No water trail down the road or up on the road following the route the car took. Looks like it pooled where I gunned the engine a bit, and a second similar pool where I gunned it slightly again.
Used the car earlier today, and no problems then and no warning lights/numbers. Checked water level earlier today and it wasn't over-filled (will check the obvious - I didn't screw the top on properly!- when car has cooled down).
So is anybody out there going to say "Hey, don't worry! Sometimes get a bit of overflow. No worries!". Or am I going to have to change my plans to use it on my 300 mile trip tomorrow? Only 1300 miles on the clock so far, and am looking forward to another 300 and the corresponding hike in revs...
Eagerly awaiting replies.... withy fingers well and truly crossed.
Just dove back from the pub and curry house with a pot of beer and take away. Good mood; prospect of damn good ruby and fine ale.
Put car in garage.... then spotted a pool of coolant on the drive, and a trail into the garage.
No water trail down the road or up on the road following the route the car took. Looks like it pooled where I gunned the engine a bit, and a second similar pool where I gunned it slightly again.
Used the car earlier today, and no problems then and no warning lights/numbers. Checked water level earlier today and it wasn't over-filled (will check the obvious - I didn't screw the top on properly!- when car has cooled down).
So is anybody out there going to say "Hey, don't worry! Sometimes get a bit of overflow. No worries!". Or am I going to have to change my plans to use it on my 300 mile trip tomorrow? Only 1300 miles on the clock so far, and am looking forward to another 300 and the corresponding hike in revs...
Eagerly awaiting replies.... withy fingers well and truly crossed.
Most likely no problem; check coolant level now its cold.
If more than 1/2 to 2/3 full, the system was just emptying excess via the pressure cap, as it likes to have at least 1/3 tank space for expansion when hot. But suggest you make sure it is at least 2/3 full, as having low coolant obviously leads to all sorts of problems; you will need a measuring stick of some type to check this!
Also, don't be tempted to check the level during your trip (unless overheating) just watch the water temp doesn't go above 100 or so. Advice from a coolant system designer was that releasing the pressure while hot (apart from danger of scalding!) allows air compressed throughout the system to reform as bubbles, which can cause little local hotspots for up to an hour of running until they clear.
Enjoy the trip
If more than 1/2 to 2/3 full, the system was just emptying excess via the pressure cap, as it likes to have at least 1/3 tank space for expansion when hot. But suggest you make sure it is at least 2/3 full, as having low coolant obviously leads to all sorts of problems; you will need a measuring stick of some type to check this!
Also, don't be tempted to check the level during your trip (unless overheating) just watch the water temp doesn't go above 100 or so. Advice from a coolant system designer was that releasing the pressure while hot (apart from danger of scalding!) allows air compressed throughout the system to reform as bubbles, which can cause little local hotspots for up to an hour of running until they clear.
Enjoy the trip
Other questions are do you have aircon etc? Could be any number of issues but yes check the level then if you are concerned get it pressure tested at a dealer asap. We had a faulty heat exchanger that caused some coolant loss and also the jubilee clips on the rad needed tightening which was easy to do and sorted out any issues last time I had a bit of coolant on the drive.
Had you been out in the rain? I find water collects between the 2 layers of fibreglass in the front and after being out in the rain it dumps water onto thr garage floor. Easy check is to see if it has anti freeze in it, if not could be rain water. Unless the Almighty is now adding antifreeze to rain. 
willyworm said:
Had you been out in the rain? I find water collects between the 2 layers of fibreglass in the front and after being out in the rain it dumps water onto thr garage floor. Easy check is to see if it has anti freeze in it, if not could be rain water. Unless the Almighty is now adding antifreeze to rain.
Good point! So are the air con and coolant points too. I watch the Mrs pull off in her MGF (!!!), and notice a stream of water dumped into the road as she drives off - I was concerned at first, but its simply water build up in the nooks and crannies.
Hi Guys. Yes, I do have aircon.
Checked the level and still fluid in the reservoir. Did a quick visual and finger-tip inspection and the bottom of the expansion/filler chamber waas wet, as was the bulk-head underneath.
So putting 2 + 2 together, and hopefully coming up with the answer 4 (lets hope I should be counting in base 10!)it looks like over-flow from the expansion tank, or maybe the clip on the hose at the bottom of the tank being loose?
Bl**dy nuisance that it is Sunday rather than Saturday, else I'd be straight off to a dealership to get it pressure checked etc. I'm still hoping to be able to take it up to Peterborough via Kent, but I'm off to my first regional meet a little later (Dorset) so will watch the temp, although it's only a short journey so won't actually build up much of a temperature.
I'll also beg some face2face advice to see if the recommendation is that I can take it on the trip. I soooo want to, as it will be the first decent run since it's 1k service.
Checked the level and still fluid in the reservoir. Did a quick visual and finger-tip inspection and the bottom of the expansion/filler chamber waas wet, as was the bulk-head underneath.
So putting 2 + 2 together, and hopefully coming up with the answer 4 (lets hope I should be counting in base 10!)it looks like over-flow from the expansion tank, or maybe the clip on the hose at the bottom of the tank being loose?
Bl**dy nuisance that it is Sunday rather than Saturday, else I'd be straight off to a dealership to get it pressure checked etc. I'm still hoping to be able to take it up to Peterborough via Kent, but I'm off to my first regional meet a little later (Dorset) so will watch the temp, although it's only a short journey so won't actually build up much of a temperature.
I'll also beg some face2face advice to see if the recommendation is that I can take it on the trip. I soooo want to, as it will be the first decent run since it's 1k service.
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