Engine Coolant Loss...

[saintsfanno1]

You're probably all currently watching Top Gear (in Pause mode as we speak) but when you return....

Anyone had coolant loss problems? Today whilst driving on the motorway I had the 2-3 pings and a warning message saying check coolant but the temp gauge was normal.

When I arrived at my destination I did check it and it was below the min level. Topped up just above second line and returned on the same journey later on. I thought that it was due to the fact that the cap may not have been on properly (I remember it locking into place when I tightened it up but not when un doing) so thought it may have evaported???

When I got home tonight, it is now down below the max line but above the min so it has dropped. No sign that I can see of leaks.

Any thoughts of where I can check? Am I just being paranoid and it is just where the thermostat opened more and more is in the engine (when I check in the morning it will have gone back up)??

Comments appreciated, could do with out this as I need the car big style this week.

Sorry Leon FR TDI 57 Plate

 

[alx_chung]

I would check the pipework that is in the engine bay for any loose connections. I had a massive loss of coolant after my first service and it turned out that the coolant pipe was loose due to it not being held properly by the holding clamp (loose screw) and it was hitting off the fan and eventually the fan had tore into the pipe.
If you can't find anything I would put it into the dealers and get them to sort it out.
Alex

 

[J-me]

I have had this happen in my Leon a few times. It happened again over the weekend with the cold weather. At my last service the dealer told me it was because the liquid in the expansion bottle expands and contracts with temperature and if it come on just to top it up a bit.

When I top it up I normally don't get any more warnings for about a year. I think there must be some slow leak in the system somewhere but the dealer can't find it.

If you top it up and it goes away I wouldn't worry about it too much.

J

 

[andycupra]

when the coolant has cooled its lever will be lower than when it was hot.

also, as its generally colder now, the level when cold may be slightly lower than when the weather was warmer. (water expands when warmer, not just when its cold)

So i would say dont panic yet, but keep a regular eye on it and see how it goes.

If you dont believe me, check the lever when the ar is cold, say first thing in the morning. Then check at the end of the journey.

 

[SEATgod]

Check it when it is cold.....ambient temperatures have no affect on coolant level.

Water needs to evaporate in the system for it to affect your level! 100 degrees +

If you have cooolant level loss, keep a record of how much over say a week.

Check it on the Monday morning before you start it!

Make sure it is on Max when the vehicle is on level ground, run the vehicle for one week without opening the system.

Check it the following Monday morning before you start it, how much water is needed to get the level bang on Max again?

A drop or two will be ok, if it starts needing significant amounts, get it checked!

Remember, when the vehicle is hot and you open the system, steam escapes.....always do it cold!

KR

 

[andycupra]

Check it when it is cold.....ambient temperatures have no affect on coolant level.

ambient temperatures can have an affect, although i accept not a significant amount.

Water needs to evaporate in the system for it to affect your level! 100 degrees +

The level can be higher if you compare a 'hot' level to a 'cold' level. - this is why you get a release of pressure if you open a hot expansion tank as the air has compressed.

If you have cooolant level loss, keep a record of how much over say a week.

Check it on the Monday morning before you start it!

Make sure it is on Max when the vehicle is on level ground, run the vehicle for one week without opening the system.

KR

good advice, although id be checking it a little more often than weekly just to be safe.

I suspect that the level may be a bit low generally, we are well aware that the cold weather and the design of the expansion tank can cause coolant level reading issues at this time of year.

If the coolant level is topped up to near max (when cold), i expect the issue to go away.

 

[saintsfanno1]

Hi All

Many thanks for the comments, well this morning it had dropped again and when i topped it up and got to work, I am sure it had dropped again, but I think now maybe not.

Anyway, lease company insisted AA came out as oppose to refferal to main dealer.

AA comments were........

"Almost certainly the possibility of a loose cap was the cause of the loss in the first place, the system when under preassure can cope with temperatures in excess of 100 degs, however when steam is allowed to escape the system is effective to a lower temperature and water loss can occur over time".

To be fair I spend most of the time worrying about how much oil I burn and pay very little attention to the other gauges, so if the cap was loose, it could have been from the previous service or before.....lesson learned.

For now and about 200 miles later, it appears to be okay....touch wood and all that.

Cheers guys.

 

[Tam]

keep an eye on it, have had 2 at work that have needed new radiators .. (I don't know whether they were faults or stone damage though).

 

[saintsfanno1]

Funny you say that, the AA guys did say he could see a small amount of water near the radiator but as it was not seen to be pink, he felt it was just road water.

However did say that if anything was to be suspect, then go for the RAD.

Amazing though after only 32K on a 57 Plate though???

 

[andycupra]

Funny you say that, the AA guys did say he could see a small amount of water near the radiator but as it was not seen to be pink, he felt it was just road water.

However did say that if anything was to be suspect, then go for the RAD.

Amazing though after only 32K on a 57 Plate though???

stones, / damage, or pipes connected to it are not really dependant on age alone.

 

[saintsfanno1]

I'm beginning to get fed up with this car now........

In a totally unrelated incident (I think), the engine management light has now come on....again

No one can tell me if it is safe to drive, is it? Can't get seen by the dealer until Tuesday next week so I hope so?

 

[andycupra]

sadly we are not able to know whats wrong with it

 

[saintsfanno1]

sadly we are not able to know whats wrong with it

I know that, bat just wondered what people generally do? Do you stop at the earliest oppurtunity and drive it no further, or do people continue and drive it modestly?

Just a consensus was what I was after

 

[saintsfanno1]

Engine management light turned out to be an intermittant fault with "Ultimate mixture sensor"...?????

Not sure the word used was ultimate but was something meaning final IIRC. Something to do with mixture anyway.

Is this the same as what I am used to when owning Fords, i.e. HEGO, LAMBDA etc.?