coolant leak, might be WGT seperation tank?

[jackaleks]

i pretty much have to top up with 250ml of coolant every time i take the car out for more than ten minutes. didn\'t have this problem until i fitted WGT\'s AST and it looks like coolant is leaking from the top, not where the pressure cap is fitted but below, where the neck meets the main part. you can see a bit of green coolant oozing out in this pic (engine wasn\'t running at this point!):


the cap has "13" written on it which i guess is the pressure rating?

this is the level i\'m filling my coolant to:


do i just keep needing to top up and it\'ll find its own level, or is the part actually faulty?

thanks,

[Kevin]

Is the AST full?  Normally they are supposed to run at 1/2 full.  You may find if it\'s full when heated up the coolant is being pushed out.

Are you sure the coolant is coming from the join and not running down the sides and pooling there, I cant quite see on the photo\'s?  I have a WGT AST on my FD and they are very well made.  But if it is coming from the join then definately send it back for a replacement.

[ro284]

Sad to say i had the exact same problem when i fitted mine some time ago, i think it was not welded where it should have been, phoned Pip and he sent a replacement very quick,
Bob

[jackaleks]

there\'s a little seam where the main tank connects to the narrower bit. it doesn\'t look like it\'s supposed to be welded, but that\'s where the coolant is escaping.

before i give WGT a call is there anything that i might have screwed up when fitting it? all the pipes are in the right place(!) and there are no kinks.

AST seems to settle at about 3/4 full but the coolant sits low in the thermostat housing too, about an inch and a half down.

thanks for replies,

[Papercup]

is it beeping for coolant, or are you just topping it up because you think it needs it?
 
i went through a strange month or two last year when the car beeped for coolant almost every time i ran it, i really thought it had popped (as every time anything happens with the Rex i immediately think \'ohmigod its blown up\' - it will almost be a release when the thing finally explodes!)
 
in the end i topped the main water bit up but left the AST about half full and it hasn\'t made a peep in 6 months
 
Andy

[buckman67]

Sad to say i had the exact same problem when i fitted mine some time ago, i think it was not welded where it should have been, phoned Pip and he sent a replacement very quick,
Bob

Me too . Seems to be a common theme.  Pip did a great job on my rebuild, the only problem was a leaking AST which he fitted.  The neck outlet was poorly welded. Pip sent a replacement without question, but he made need a quality check on his AST supplier !!

[ENVYD]

someone should put that forward to him then if no one else has already!

[buckman67]

someone should put that forward to him then if no one else has already!

I guess if Pip is sending out all these replacements he should have a good idea that something is amiss :yes

[jackaleks]

the coolant light isn\'t always coming on, but when i can\'t even see the level of it looking down the filler neck something isn\'t right.

WGT rebuilt my engine before i bought the car and it runs like an absolute dream, i guess unfortunately whoever is building this part for them doesn\'t have the same attention to detail.

[ENVYD]

I guess if Pip is sending out all these replacements he should have a good idea that something is amiss :yes

 
hmm very true! but it might not always go back to him personally! (never dealt with him so not sure how his staff system works!)

[ro284]

I guess if Pip is sending out all these replacements he should have a good idea that something is amiss

Well looking back i got mine Dec 04, i spoke to Pip then, i remember he re-placed it very quickly, even though i bought mine off someone else, The one i have now is also not welded around the neck, but i\'m sure thats where it leaked on the original one,
Bob

[gsb876]

the coolant light isn\'t always coming on, but when i can\'t even see the level of it looking down the filler neck something isn\'t right.

WGT rebuilt my engine before i bought the car and it runs like an absolute dream, i guess unfortunately whoever is building this part for them doesn\'t have the same attention to detail.

if you cant see the coolant at all then theres a serious leakage and get it sorted asap, try not to drive the RX till sorted as if you get a overheating issue you could lose the engine and require a rebuild !!!

[jackaleks]

if you cant see the coolant at all then theres a serious leakage and get it sorted asap, try not to drive the RX till sorted as if you get a overheating issue you could lose the engine and require a rebuild !!!

awesome!

i\'ve only got the stock temp gauge as well so i guess it\'ll be a drive ornament for a few more days.

just been out and had another look, tried elevating the AST well above the main filler cap but no better. even if i just give the radiator top hose a gentle squeeze coolant bubbles out of the top, dread to think what\'s happening when the car\'s running and the throttle is open.

i\'ll give WGT a ring and post the dud one back to Pip in case he wants to disect it.

[jackaleks]

just in case anyone stumbles over this thread with a similar problem:
 
WGT replaced the part with next day delivery and... no more leaks! big thanks to everyone at WGT, fantastic customer service.

[Martiny]

Many aftermaket ASTs leak. I went with the Rotekniks philosophy of replacing the Mazda one every 2 years or so.