Mystery water loss
Discussion
like a good car owner i check my oil and water once a week (pobably because that is about as far a my mechanical skills strech) and regularly find that the water level has droped a good couple of inches from the top of the swirl tank ('92 griff 4.3). this usually happens after i have done a hundred miles or so of fast driving in the preceeding week. the car does not seem to overheat, i get no puddles of water at any time when it is stationary or obvious leaks (and no mayonaise in the engine oil). could this just be down to worn hose seals etc letting water out under pressure. am i alone with this or has anyone any suggestions. it does not worry me too much as i just make sure the water is regularly topped up. should i be more concerned that this is the tip of an "expensive repair bill coming soon " iceberg ?
Even good garages have trouble finding problems like
this one... but mysteries like this can occur if there
is a crack in to the exhaust port - hence the water escapes out the exhaust.
My advice would be to find out now - if normally free
from a good garage and suggest - pressure test, chemical analysis of water, co reading in water expansion bottle and co test in exhaust.
The only problem is what they find might be expensive
but you can always 'think about it..' and take it somewhere cheaper if need be ..
this one... but mysteries like this can occur if there
is a crack in to the exhaust port - hence the water escapes out the exhaust.
My advice would be to find out now - if normally free
from a good garage and suggest - pressure test, chemical analysis of water, co reading in water expansion bottle and co test in exhaust.
The only problem is what they find might be expensive
but you can always 'think about it..' and take it somewhere cheaper if need be ..
This happened to me too recently. Eventually I noticed tell-tale splatters of coolant on the underside of the bonnet. Under pressure the expansion cap was letting coolant out, which was getting blown up and back by the fans/slipstream.
To my surprise, the cap would tighten up another quarter-turn when hot - and now it's OK again. I'm now ready to enter the 'Simplest Fix of the Year Award'...
To my surprise, the cap would tighten up another quarter-turn when hot - and now it's OK again. I'm now ready to enter the 'Simplest Fix of the Year Award'...
Echo the advice split hoses/seals/clamps etc, also check the bleed screw on the radiator, under pressure, mine sprayed a very fine jet of water out onto the exhaust (and obviously evaporated!), it was very difficult to see..
25p fo a roll of PTFE tape.
It still gets through a fair amount of coolant but I'm not particularly worried.
Doesn't seem to get through that much oil though...
25p fo a roll of PTFE tape.
It still gets through a fair amount of coolant but I'm not particularly worried.
Doesn't seem to get through that much oil though...
If it is anything like the 500 then the loss is due to the fact that it is not supposed to be full. The tank is also an expansion tank and it will be blowing out the excess every time you fill it right up. if that is in the form of vapour you may well not notice it. leave 2-3 inches space at the top - my 500 has about an inch in the bottom and has settled there.
'The tank is also an expansion tank and it will be blowing out the excess every time you fill it right up.'
Yes indeed. The usual instruction (in the handbook I think) is to keep it half full, at least on a serpentine engine. On a 4.x the coolant goes directly into the swirlpot and the level should be about 3/4 inch below the bottom of the side pipe.
Yes indeed. The usual instruction (in the handbook I think) is to keep it half full, at least on a serpentine engine. On a 4.x the coolant goes directly into the swirlpot and the level should be about 3/4 inch below the bottom of the side pipe.
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