water use

[using water]

just got a chim 400 its not to bad but had been left out side for quite some time it had its service book stamped up and on inspection most things looked ok it was only 5500 quid but the rad was well rotten looking
but it ran ok and didnt get to hot even in trafic then after a week
when justing nipping to the shops in the wet the rad sprang a leek
drove for a mile home and the temp went up but water was still in the system spraying out through the front ! let it cool then refilled the system with warm water
replaced the rad with new one and refilled following the instructions in the book (have never worked on a car before but years of bike racing os not a total dim wit) the car them ran a gain the heater blows out hot air
the car never gets above 90 even with pelonged flat out thrashing down the a14 but every time i look in the coolant tank its used a bit of water normaly 1/2 of whats in side (i top it up to the half way line)

question is do you think this is normal or is it doomed ?

and do they all smell a bit like cat piss (fiberglass resin) when running

any answers will help

[BBR]

I've got '96 400 HC. It doesnt like the coolant header tank to be more than 1/4 or 1/3 full. If I put any more in it just spits it out. I suggest you let it find its own level. Once it has found its own level you should not need to top it up. My understanding is that each Chim is different. However what I've said assumes you have the model with a swirl pot in addition to the coolant header tank.

[dogbucket]

They tend to find their own level in the expansion tank so assuming it does not continue to drop then it should be ok. Mine has a small leak from the rad and needs topping up every month or so, but its usually sitting around the 1/4 mark.

Havent noticed any horrible smells from mine, yours is not damp inside or something?

[ray_von]

using water said:

and do they all smell a bit like cat piss (fiberglass resin) when running

any answers will help

Neither of mine have smelt of cats piss, the one I've got now was owned by someone who has cats as well!
Maybe you have had a cat pissing in it

[using water]

yer its got the 2 tanks linked by a pipe and one eith a preasure cap
i have watched it and it dont look like its spitting out through the preasure cap

it also sounds like it has a slight miss at tick over ?
but i havent had the time to change leads and plugs etc and clean the stepper motor thing yet

but i just get the nagging that it wil have a headgasket gone
!

[ray_von]

Look for witness marks around the engine bay for dried coolant. It may be something as simple as a loose hose clip. As said before expansion tanks don't necessarily like to sit half way up mine sits about 1" from the bottom. Have you checked your oil for 'mayo'?

[ray_von]

Just thought. I don't know the A14 but if you are travelling at any sort of speed I don't think you should be seeing 90 on the gauge.

[using water]

no mayo oil nice and clean

sorry i ment the car never gets above 90 ever it was about 70 ish or just below when i was trashing it and then i let i stand and do some fan cycles
even then it never went over 90
just to clear up my miss wording

[ray_von]

That sounds about right, although as you'll find out they are all different. I would just do the basics first. Check all the clips and hoses, make sure it's bled properly, there's loads of stuff on here about that. Try not to overfill the expansion tank, it sounds as though yours may well sit at 1/4 full.
Give that a try and see what happens before getting concerned about HGF.

[jvr]

Just be brave and let it find its own level.My 4.0 chim was at the half way level so when i bought the 450 it was only a little off the bottom,topped up to half way still went down but left it at approx inch of bottom and all is calm no more loss of water.
P

[using water]

will keep thrasing it and let you know

[V8 GRF]

Yep mine sits at 1/4 full.

This is a common worry for new owners they fill the tank up and then the system just dumps the water to find it's own level.

[CLN1]

Mine sits at half way up

Colin.

[Red V8]

ray_von said:

using water said:

and do they all smell a bit like cat piss (fiberglass resin) when running

any answers will help

Neither of mine have smelt of cats piss, the one I've got now was owned by someone who has cats as well!
Maybe you have had a cat pissing in it

Ditto... are you sure you used the antifreeze bottle and not the one marked cat's piss... pretty similar in colour I'd guess?

[The AJP Griff]

ray_von said:

using water said:

and do they all smell a bit like cat piss (fiberglass resin) when running

any answers will help

Neither of mine have smelt of cats piss, the one I've got now was owned by someone who has cats as well!
Maybe you have had a cat pissing in it

It might be worth checking for PAS leaks or gearbox leaks,as this can sometimes smell like cats pee?

[TVRTC]

Try tasting it
Antifreeze is sweet, dont know about cat piss, never tried it.
Although its probably simular to that europiss stuff they sell abroad and call it beer !!!

[using water]

It's dryround the engine and no drips on the floor no smoke or burning oil smells
Just afunny smell ! Every thing inside is dry just smells as it warms up

[walt762]

The AJP Griff said:

ray_von said:

using water said:

and do they all smell a bit like cat piss (fiberglass resin) when running

any answers will help

Neither of mine have smelt of cats piss, the one I've got now was owned by someone who has cats as well!
Maybe you have had a cat pissing in it

It might be worth checking for PAS leaks or gearbox leaks,as this can sometimes smell like cats pee?

It sounds as if your heat matting on the inner wings beside the engine may need replacing, the smell will be the fibreglass cooking.

[using water]

that's the smell were can I get some replacement stuff from?

[MADMAX2]

using water said:

the car never gets above 90 even with pelonged flat out thrashing down the a14

hahahahahahaha laffed my head off when i read that!


i will have my rad recored just for info where did you get a new one from and how much?


cheers


Ian