High Coolant Usage

dj_dee99 · October 19, 2008, 02:26:40 PM

I\'ve always seemed to get through coolant very fast and regularly have to top it up.

Thing is this has been a regular thing. Before & after I had the engine rebuilt.

There\'s no leaks, and never any water left underneath the car at any time. So does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this? Just wouldn\'t like to run the risk of running out of coolant if I was to go on a really long journey or anything!

trevtubby · October 19, 2008, 03:49:48 PM

If there is definately no leaks then it sounds like your water seals?

But you say its been rebuilt and is still doing it? Who rebuilt the engine?

Take it back and get them to sort it out as it shouldnt be loosing coolant.

dj_dee99 · October 19, 2008, 04:04:36 PM

Was rebuilt at Haywards.
I\'d have thought if the water seals were dodgy, then it would show in the oil? But there\'s no signs of water mixing with it.
Engine runs perfectly, temperature stays fine. So I don\'t quite get it.

clive · October 20, 2008, 08:49:12 AM

Quote from: dj_dee99;545936I\'ve always seemed to get through coolant very fast and regularly have to top it up.

Thing is this has been a regular thing. Before & after I had the engine rebuilt.

There\'s no leaks, and never any water left underneath the car at any time. So does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this? Just wouldn\'t like to run the risk of running out of coolant if I was to go on a really long journey or anything!

One possible cause is "if" you are topping up the water system via all three visable water caps,

If you are then only top up via the one on the engine and leave the others alone and the system will find it\'s own level.

If you put too much water in the system will try and get rid of the excess which normaly means it dumps too much

Hope this helps

dj_dee99 · December 27, 2008, 04:43:17 PM

Well, I still have this problem. And still have no idea what\'s going on. Basically, Each time I\'ve used the car, I need to top up with between a litre to a litre & a half of water before I next use it!

No idea where it\'s disappearing to. Still not spotted any leaks. And the temp guage isn\'t showing any different, everything runs fine, etc etc.
Gotta be going somewhere though! :3Confused:3Confused

I\'ve only been topping up at the engine filler cap too, not at the AST or Expansion tank.

HaywardRotary · December 27, 2008, 04:46:28 PM

Bring the car back to us an we\'ll see what is going on.
Regards
Carl

Shiuko · December 28, 2008, 09:53:48 PM

I did had the same problem and sorted it by tightening the top hose in the ast.
Good luck.

dj_dee99 · December 29, 2008, 05:57:28 PM

Hmmmm. Now there\'s a point. I think you can push & pull that hose off quite easily on mine. Might invest in a new jubilee clip & see what happens.

Otherwise, Carl, I\'ll give you a call and arrange to pop over when it\'s convenient & get you to have a look.

HaywardRotary · December 29, 2008, 06:36:55 PM

Quote from: dj_dee99;569391Hmmmm. Now there\'s a point. I think you can push & pull that hose off quite easily on mine. Might invest in a new jubilee clip & see what happens.

Otherwise, Carl, I\'ll give you a call and arrange to pop over when it\'s convenient & get you to have a look.

No Probs.

Regards
Carl

dj_dee99 · January 12, 2009, 09:21:00 PM

Well, a little update on this.
As the AST top hose had never had a jubilee clip on it, I\'d thought nothing of it till now. Put a clip on it, and did about 80 or so miles the other day, and so far all seems o.k. Will keep checking over a few days usage & see what happens though.

Shiuko · January 12, 2009, 10:43:36 PM

I\'m glad that you have sorted your problem.
Happy motoring.

dj_dee99 · January 12, 2009, 11:03:49 PM

Cheers dude! Glad you mentioned that, else I probably wouldn\'t have even tried it

gsb876 · January 13, 2009, 12:10:34 AM

Best thing to do is refill the water, start the car and then watch and see if you can see any leaks or puddles under the car ? will help you pin point the location of the leak.

Obviously allow car to reach peak water temp so system is up to pressure.

Smifta · January 13, 2009, 09:43:16 AM

Quote from: dj_dee99;574180Cheers dude! Glad you mentioned that, else I probably wouldn\'t have even tried it

This line does not have a clip on it as it is not a presurised line. This is the overflow that pushes water into the expansion tank when the car heats up, as the engine cools it then draws it back into the engine (like sucking a straw).

That said, I had water issues and it turned out that this line was not sealing properly. It was pushing into the expansion tank, but when it was sucking it back it was bring air with it too (through a tiny, tiny gap). After a few cyles this would cause the engine to run low, and the coolant tank to overflow. I changed the pipe and all was good.

Sounds like you had a similar problem.