205 gti 1.6 water leak
Discussion
Had a similar problem, couldn't see where the water was going at all but it was using it up (can't even recall which car this was BTW). A great trick is to pressure test the engine when it's cold. Get an adapter for your rad or expansion tank that enables you to pump up the system cold. I made mine out of a wine making rubber bung which is a big bung with a hole down the middle. I then wedged a tyre valve in the hole and pumped up with a bike pump. The leak will be revealed without the water evaporating as was happening with my car.
It's a long shot but I had a similar issue when I bought mine...
One of the narrow (heater?) hoses to the back of the block had a nick in it at the block end which didn't manifest itself when stationary, only when moving.
The reason it had got is that the top engine mount had failed at the engine was rocking too much - I only realised this when all the mount to block bolts failed.... which was a right b!tch of a job to sort out (drilling out broken bolts with a 90deg head drill)
Like i say its a long shot, but you never know!
One of the narrow (heater?) hoses to the back of the block had a nick in it at the block end which didn't manifest itself when stationary, only when moving.
The reason it had got is that the top engine mount had failed at the engine was rocking too much - I only realised this when all the mount to block bolts failed.... which was a right b!tch of a job to sort out (drilling out broken bolts with a 90deg head drill)
Like i say its a long shot, but you never know!
Here are kid, I had exactly the same prob with my 1.6 the other day, thought Id share what was up wit mine... I was driving along the M40 regular speed (80), all of a sudden the temp sky rocketed and the light you never want to see came on. I pulled over to find there was no water in her, id only been driving 15 mins and Id checked the water before hand and the level was fine. Now, my pugs always run a bit warm, on the 3rd to last notch normally..but as soon as I saw the temp creep a little past its normal point, I had that 'orrible cold shiver. I did have a problem in the past with the o/s steel water pipe which was so corroded it leaked. I had it replaced and she had never leaked since, so I knew it wasnt that. The fans were going like mad, but she was too hot for me to touch so i just sat there (yes I was crying - I have right to being a girl). After about 20 mins of being pathetic and wathcing the HGV drivers taking the piss, I got up and had a look. I could see a slight bit of damp down the back of the bay under the water tank. I grabbed me tools and got to work on the hard shoulder...I know its not the best place, but its all I could do. I pulled all the air kit off and got down to the thermostat (word to the wise - if your going to pull off the housing, make sure you have a replacement gasket - fortunatly I had some blue gasket paste). The housing was well stuck on, so I looked a right pillock with my feet on the grill pulling at it with a pair of mole grips. Eventually it came off (and i nearly flew into the path of the highway traffic guys), and I pulled out the old stat, glued the old gasket back onto the housing and put it all together again. It defo helped, I had shoved a load more water in and we took it easy all the way bak to lincoln. When i got home, a lot of water had disappeared, it had got so hot that it boiled out the overflow and evapourated so it looked like Id lost the water somewhere else, but i can assure you it came out of the overflow. Course, my brother was keen to tell me that it was a blown head gasket (he's never liked my baby - jealously is such a terrible trait), but like yours, the oil was fine. I didnt give up and the next day i took out the radiator, well, it was like a relic of the titanic. This thing was scabby. Ive since spoken to a few new zealand lads who have had the same problem with theirs - rust and air blocks over heating the engine. Well, seens how my radiator had about as much filliment left as a strippers thong, I decided to just get a new one, £45 squid-a-roos later from GFS and an hours work in my garage, I took her out for a spin. What can I say! Ive never had it run so cool!!! If your radiator is in good nick, flush it out with a hose and see what comes out, before you put it back on, flush the system out of rubbish too.
It sorted it for mine (I also located the mysterious oil leak...oil pressure sensor, I put a new one on at the same time and it hasnt leaked since.)
Hope that helps!!
(sorry ive gabbed on a bit...remember...im a girl - we do that).
Zoe
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It sorted it for mine (I also located the mysterious oil leak...oil pressure sensor, I put a new one on at the same time and it hasnt leaked since.)
Hope that helps!!
(sorry ive gabbed on a bit...remember...im a girl - we do that).
Zoe
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