Coolant issue

[noobysurfer]

Hi I've just checked my coolant level and it was down to 10mm in the bottom of the bottle,that's with the engine up to temperature. I opened the rad cap and there was no liquid at the top like there used to be! Do I just top up the rad with water and the bottle with coolant?? Is there an underlying problem with this? I have done a few 250 mile trips at around 75 80 mph which I wouldn't expect to bother the surf! Any clues as to what's up or is just normal for old machine?? Thanks in advance,James

[si tate]

Top both rad & bottle with specified coolant & keep checking every day for a week or so. If there are no obvious leaks it could be just an air lock depending on when it was last flushed or it could be something more serious.

[slobodan]

Hi I've just checked my coolant level and it was down to 10mm in the bottom of the bottle,that's with the engine up to temperature. I opened the rad cap and there was no liquid at the top like there used to be!

You opened the rad cap when the engine was up to temp?
I would do what Si says and top it up and check it daily.

[garry]

check all your coolant hoses for cracks /leaks
look around the engine bay for spots of rusty water marks and also have a good look around your water pump whilst running could be on its way out

[spacast]

Also check the rubber seal on the rad cap is not split

[noobysurfer]

Thanks for the help folks, I drove to Manchester last night and checked the coolant level this morning and it's dropped by an inch or so in the bottle! I can't see any leaks or water staining in the engine bay and I watched the temp gauge closely and it never moved on the trip down. Any ideas as to the problem ??? Ta

[flounderbout]

You opened the rad cap when the engine was up to temp?

I did that with my Lotus Esprit when I was young and foolish! Unfortunately a chap was sitting nearby in a convertible Beemer as this geyser of muddy brown and steaming hot liquid went about 20 foot in the air and sprayed the surrounding area...
He seemed unhappy.

[Hazzo]

if you've no obvious leak signs in the engine bay, its not overheating then have a look/feel around the rear heater pipes and your carpets, still no water signs get it tested but from past experience its not looking good. H

PS. Sustained hi speeds in these aren't good either, they're built for the nips who trundle around, mine seized/hydrolocked before I was convinced the head had gone, I don't go over 55 in it anymore, have fitted an aftermarket guage as the temp guage with them is as much use as a choccy fireguard, readings are, cold/its normal/its fcuked, no in between, also too much plumbing and a viscous fan which can let you down without seeming to and also needs another oil cooler, once these jobs are done you have a decent truck.

[noobysurfer]

Thanks hazzo for the info, what's worse case scenario? If the head was cracked would it be more obvious?? I'm getting worried about this as it's my work truck and I'm in Manchester and my mech tools are in Glasgow!!!

[lukenemma]

mine had a problem like that was the pipe going into the bottle was to short

[Hazzo]

Worst case scenario, cracked head, I'm not a great mech but have done my own servicing for years and found it pretty easy to renew the head with the help from guys here, look at my old threads on cylinder heads, use the search function there's dozens there. The main thing is imo, cover everything as you remove a bit, I used poly food bags, and label all leads, cables, and those ###### vac hoses, its a piece of pi55. Keep your speed down though just drive steady 55-60 ish, its boring as hell but the truck will plod on, mine lasted 6 months before it seized but there's no guarantees so its a job for sooner rather than later, get it tested somewhere as mine showed no signs of contamination but was the same as yours, 1 inch loss of coolant over about 150 miles. H

[TonyN]

Ignore the bottle level, it varies, as long as there is some in it is all. Check it at the rad cap.

[noobysurfer]

Thanks for the help,I appreciate everyones advice on this but I wish there was a leak or pools of water or some indication as to why I'm losing fluid!! I'll keep it topped up and checked daily until something shows or it craps out on me!!

[TonyN]

Give all the hoses all round the engine bay a good tug while its warm and dry.

I had a minor water loss issues for ages on our truck that was a pin hole on a hose, that evaporated as it leaked when hot, but didn't leak when cold so you never noticed it.

I only really spotted it after not bothering to clean engine after a offroad trip, and noticed damp mud round a hose weeks later.

It was enough to need topping up twice on a trip to Cornwall towing a trailer, but didn't lose any noticable coolant for months of normaly day to day driving.

[noobysurfer]

Right folks I need a definite answer please,this hasn't been resolved and it's doing my head in!!!
I have checked all hoses pipes and engine bay for leaks and it's bone dry.
The temp needle doesn't move off normal but I know this is not a reliable indication!!
The latest thing is that the rad is empty and the bottle is full or sometimes I end up with more coolant in the bottle than I'd marked before I left! I am still doing a 220 mile drive on a Sunday, use the car to commute on Monday and then it's parked up till Friday for a return trip.
I need to get to the bottom of this before it craps out on the m6 !!
Thanks for any input,james