small water leak.

[jessica]

It appear I ahve a small water leak in my CHIM 500.
a small patch of water and antifreeze,appearing daily on the left hand side of my rad.looking from drivers seat towards bonnet.

Off to tighten jubilee clips cannot see any obvious perished hoses,or indeed any probs with rad itself.

Any other suggestions?? Much appreciated.

Ta

[prussianblue450]

Have you taken the fans off to have a look at the inside of the radiator.

I had a similar problem on my Chim last year, could find the leak until I unbolted the top of the fans, leant them back and them found the little bugger. the arrangement of the fans etc means where the water appears doesn't always tell you where the leak is coming from.

Depending on the hole, you may be able to get it soldered, else you'll have to get a new one

As an alternative to soldering I filled the sections around the hole on mine with JB Weld, a super strong expoxy resin, hasn't given a problem since, cost £5 , a couple of days off the road to let it cure and an hours work removing and refitting back the rad. It coped with the 37 degree day last August


>> Edited by prussianblue450 on Wednesday 16th June 11:10

>> Edited by prussianblue450 on Wednesday 16th June 11:10

[spend]

White kitchen roll is your friend, its a bugger to see slight stains on the patterned ones. Quick wipe, wrap suspected areas with clean roll leave over night & hopefully you can see where leak is in the morning.

Dave

[prussianblue450]

I could be wrong, but it sounds to me like the rad itself. There is a channel under the radiator which collects the leakage, and it only allows the coolant to escape at either end, so it ends up going to ground at either the extreme left or right of the car even tho the leak might be smack bang in the centre of the rad.

Looking at the rad when you've just come back from a drive and the system is under pressure will probably reveal the little sod

[jessica]

oh good!

Will go and observe the rad this eve. Gitta get it fixed for PF.

|

[jessica]

had a good look no leaks as i can see. just warmed up and no leaks either.

now begining to feel i have a leak in the water bottle window squiryt thingie......

anyone got exp of this???????????

[prussianblue450]

You could try putting some food colouring (red or something different to greeny/blue of antifreeze or screenwasher) in the bottle and looking at the water you find on the floor next time to see

[jessica]

prussianblue450 said:

You could try putting some food colouring (red or something different to greeny/blue of antifreeze or screenwasher) in the bottle and looking at the water you find on the floor next time to see

good idea.........
will do.
might have a red windscreen though........

go and try it.. thanks

[prussianblue450]

Yeah, best not to use the washer but in this weather thats not too bad!!

You can then flush it out with a hose once you're done!

[FlipFlopGriff]

Jessica,
Try some Radweld first. Its around £4 for a bottle and readily available. It worked for us so £4 well spent.
FFG

[JonRB]

NOOOO! Don't put RadWeld in.

In fact, now you have said "RadWeld" you'll probably have Steve Heath joining the discussion within the next 30mins to say why you shouldn't do it.

(He has every time I've dare mention it. )

[FlipFlopGriff]

Its been in for 6 months - no leak - whats the problem???
FFG