Lost water

[cerbhead]

Anyone can help out there?

On long run in my 4.5 over summer the car overheated stuck in motorway queue in hot sun, about a litre of coolant on the floor from the overflow. Let it cool down while I grabbed some grub - took ages - and topped up the water tank. A couple of hundred miles home and while the water temp seemd ok on the motorway it started bouncing about on the last stretch of A roads and finally I had to stop as it overheated again (midnight). Got the Rescue guys out and arrived home early morning. Since then systems been bled several times but the car goes through about a litre of water in 30-40 miles (I don't use the car much fortunately) - but there is no trace of a leak anywhere - no puddles, or wet patches, hoses are dry, nose cone is dry etc. Any ideas? I just got a bad feeling about this....

[gazzab]

if there is no water in the oil then I guess it is a hose or the rad OR the 'Y' connect under the coolant expansion tank?

[t8rus]

head gasket???

[Extra 300 Driver]

I agree, I am afraid. If there are no signs of where the water is going the it could be the H/G. Could you get the system pressure tested?

Check the oil, see if there is any water in there.

[cerbhead]

Thanks - the oil is v clean, changed it recently and wasn't sign of water in it. I guess if head gasket then I'd see oil in water or sludge somewhere?

[c3ber]

There should now be a creamy water oil mix on the filler cap.

[c3ber]

If it is a leaking head gasket....do not drive the car as you stand a good chance of warping your head.

[cerbhead]

Doh...thought this was heading for bad news! Sorry to be a pain with all these questions, but assume its HG, does it mean the engine has to come out to get the heads off? Are the parts readily available - gaskets, tappet shims, etc? What about bolt torques? I can't see any timing marks so I guess its a dial guage and timing wheel job. Does anybody know anyone whose done this before?

[Extra 300 Driver]

Where in the UK are you?

[cerbhead]

Nort East

[kojak]

Someone I know has just had his HG done, and it was the engine out job.


..adding to say...if it is the HG (as some of you have said) and there is no oil in the coolant/overflow tank, can it still be the problem?

..added again. Are the fans coming on?

>> Edited by kojak on Sunday 25th September 15:44

>> Edited by kojak on Sunday 25th September 15:46

[cerbhead]

Update.... just pulled the engine breather pipe out of the airbox and it is very very gungy/slimey..... unfortunately this is looking like a HG problem.

Thanks Kojak - yes the fans are coming on - wish they weren't .

Looking through the forum I can't find nobody who has spannered TVR engines themselves - must be something truly awful with the lumps.... everything else seems workable on. This is starting to feel v expensive... Sorry to rant!

[gazzab]

in my last cerb I used to lose water - think I had two problems (if memory serves me right) both of which didnt cause water loss when car was cold or in my garage ! Ended up needing a new bit of piping (pin hole) and I think I had some work done to the rad.

[mart 63]

I had same sort of problem,water all over garage forecourt and steam.Kept topping up bottle for days after no sign of leaking water but loosing water.the problem turned out to be the expansion tank lid ,fitted a new one,been fine for the last year or so.They are off a VW.

[madbrian]

they normally fill up with water not lose it

[mart 63]

There's a preasure valve in the cap and that was faulty.