Wet patch under car?

[bren.wright]

Hi guys,

Just noticed there is a wet patch under the car, thing is I cannot see where it's coming from, there is no obvious leaks or anything? I have noticed the water temperature has been running quite high the last few days.

Possibly the radiator?

I have heard people mention it could be the aircon as well? Would I be right in thinking this would only be the case if the aircon had been on? I haven't had the aircon on this morning.

Cheers for any info

Bren

[purpleperil]

bren.wright said:

Hi guys,

Just noticed there is a wet patch under the car, thing is I cannot see where it's coming from, there is no obvious leaks or anything? I have noticed the water temperature has been running quite high the last few days.

Possibly the radiator?

I have heard people mention it could be the aircon as well? Would I be right in thinking this would only be the case if the aircon had been on? I haven't had the aircon on this morning.

Cheers for any info

Bren

Check the bottom hose connection to the rad - mine leaked from there and only needed the jubilee clip tightening to sort it out

[JonRB]

bren.wright said:

Just noticed there is a wet patch under the car

Have you recently used a female mechanic?

(Sorry, I'll get my coat )

[bren.wright]

lol, you didn't have time to take your coat off!

Just moved the car and there is drips of water coming out of the little drain holes under the nose, tastes like coolant. I cannot see any visible signs of a leak though between any of the pipes or the radiator. I will leave it a while and check the coolant level, see if it has dropped.

Cheers

Bren

[JonRB]

My Chimaera used to do this. On the various occasions it did it was invariably a coolant issue. Check for split hoses and/or a damaaged core to the rad. Possible rad damage can be stones, age-related failure, or in one case the fan becoming dislodged slightly and actually abrading the rad and holing it. No, really.

[Hoolio]

bren.wright said:

lol, you didn't have time to take your coat off!

Just moved the car and there is drips of water coming out of the little drain holes under the nose, tastes like coolant. I cannot see any visible signs of a leak though between any of the pipes or the radiator. I will leave it a while and check the coolant level, see if it has dropped.

Cheers

Bren

Bren, how much water is it using? Rad maybe split, especially if you have the plastic one.

[grumbledoak]

bren.wright said:

tastes like coolant.

Don't do that. Antifreeze isn't good for you!

That aside, as said, the hoses, connections, and the radiator itself all sound like suspects.

[malman]

wipe a piece of kitchen roll across the bottom core of the rad via the air intake in the nose. This should show if you have a core leak.

[cramorra]

Although youre does not steam (yet???) - lots of possibilities for leaks here...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
may you find it soon....

[hollowpockets]

first of all go round and check all the hose clips, they are of poor quality and need tightened every now and again, or replace with stainless one's if the old ones dont tighten easily, then check your expansion cap is on properly and the bolts at the thermostat and heat exchanger i think it is (forward of the manifold) are tight, then turn the car on and get on yer belly and try get a rough idea of where its comming from, still leaking then its likely to be a pinhole leak sprung in the rad. you could try radweld but it didnt work for me and just makes a mess of your coolant pipes/the inside of the engine, or finally replace the rad with an all alloy jobbie.

[bren.wright]

Thanks for the help guys, I will take a look when I get home and see if I can find the cause, will let you know I get on.

[bren.wright]

Had a good look around now and have been left slightly baffled...

The water in the expansion tank seemed about right, I have topped it up slightly and took an exact measurement to see if it's going down, because it doesn't appear to be losing any.

The water appears to be coming out of the drain hole in the nose (drivers side) in the air duct about the drain hole it's all dry though, so I cannot work out where the water is coming from.

I will keep my eye on the water level and see if it changes.

[bren.wright]

Had a good look around now and have been left slightly baffled...

The water in the expansion tank seemed about right, I have topped it up slightly and took an exact measurement to see if it's going down, because it doesn't appear to be losing any.

The water appears to be coming out of the drain hole in the nose (drivers side) in the air duct about the drain hole it's all dry though, so I cannot work out where the water is coming from.

I will keep my eye on the water level and see if it changes.

[VARLEYHYD]

bren.wright said:

The water appears to be coming out of the drain hole in the nose (drivers side) in the air duct about the drain hole it's all dry though, so I cannot work out where the water is coming from.

I will keep my eye on the water level and see if it changes.

Try replacing the worm drive clips on the rad inlet /outlet with stainless band clamps before you invest in a new rad.

They make a major difference from standard.
No leaks whatsoever now!

G

[Oat$y]

If you have A/C it could be the condesation from it. then nothing to worry about.

[RT]

"tastes like coolant"

which is highly toxic!

[bren.wright]

Well I aint dead yet! :P