2004 Mini Cooper Overheating Issue

[bjblyth]

Hi all, got my Mini in June 2013 and this is my first issue...

I drove it today for about half an hour after being caught a horrendous downpour of rain and hoped the heating would warm me up a bit - but the journey home was cold, no warm air blowing through at all - engine temperature seemed fine and no warning lights on the dash...

Almost home and the temperature gauge started to rise - turns out my coolant has all but disappeared. So I've filled it up but it only took about half a litre of the 5L bottle I bought. Could there be a blockage, or is it full and this not the cause?

Any ideas or advice welcome!

It's a 2004 1.6 petrol BMW Mini Cooper

Thanks,

Ben

[Mr Cooper]

The rad caps are a known weak point, so for the sake of a few £££ from the dealer, try this first.

Is there any emulsified oil on the dip stick or underside of the oil filler?

Make sure you top up with the correct ratio of water/coolant too...

[bjblyth]

Mr Cooper said:

The rad caps are a known weak point, so for the sake of a few £££ from the dealer, try this first.

Is there any emulsified oil on the dip stick or underside of the oil filler?

Make sure you top up with the correct ratio of water/coolant too...

Will check the oil now - I only topped up 1 week ago, could this be connected to my problem?

The coolant was ready mixed from Halfords (only place local to get hold of some quickly!) and I took the stuff they recommended in their guides.

[DarkMatter]

It could be leaking out of the thermostat housing.

[bjblyth]

It's not going down now though in the main tank that I've poured it in to? Surely a leak would mean that would go down? But it's the same level as when I topped up a few hours ago :/

[DarkMatter]

If it is a leaky thermostat housing, as was the case with my wife's Cooper, it took several days until the water level went low enough to need a top up, apart from the loss of water the temperature rose above normal causing the cooling fan to switch on and off more frequently.

[dalzo]

Check the rad cap is on tight

Mine was screwed on but not tight causing it to overheat

[DanGT]

As above on the lid. I had the same topped up 3 times untill the level was ok. But car been ok for over 3 years. It dose not take a lot to drop the level on a mini. For refrance the oil check is to see if the head gaskit has a problem, you get water in the oil and the oil starts to look more like its got creem on it. Dose happen but not a normal problem for minis.