Coolant levels?

[jimmyV8]

I vaguely remember reading a post on here but couldnt find it about coolant levels? I seem to be forever checking my expansion tank to find it empty even after only driven it a few miles after filling it. I fill it up leaving around 2-3inches of space each time. It doesnt appear to leak in my garage and there is no evidence of water in the oil? The car doesnt seem to take any longer or shorter to get up to temp regardless of filling the collant up? Any suggestions? Cheers!

[Cider Andy]

If the system hasn't been bled properly, it can take a while to self bleed through normal warming up and driving.

What's more likely though is a tiny leak, perhaps in the radiator. This happened on my car for over a year until I found it. Leak was only evident under pressure (when the engine was hot) and then it appeared as vapour, not always easy to see.

[bigdods]

2-3 inches sounds too full to me. On my 450 I fill it up to the weld line , it spits out what it doesnt need and usually settles about 1 inch from the bottom of the expansion tank. They are of course all different, but is your expansion tank really empty or is it just like mine, at a low level ?

[chrispitman]

Next time it is empty I would take a look in the swirl pot, the water should be almost to the top. If not then would suggest a leak and running out of water from the coolant tank to refill.

[jimmyV8]

ok thanks guys, the tank appears to be wet at the bottom but not anything more. I will check the swirl pot next time.

[bigdods]

jimmyV8 said:

ok thanks guys, the tank appears to be wet at the bottom but not anything more. I will check the swirl pot next time.

Sounds like you've got a small leak then....

[TVRPierre]

I had the same problem with mine. I bought one of the CoolTester leak detectors for Steve Heath. I found the leak on one of the heater hoses in about 5 minutes. The leak was not apparent when it got up to temperature/presuure as the water just vapourised.

Pete