Coolant help!

[noobysurfer]

Ok this is now a nightmare so get your thinking caps on please!! I've had a coolant loss issue for some time now and had the head skimmed and gasket done ater a pressure test and I'm still losing coolant. There is no White smoke,no overheating or even needle twitch and I know from you guys that it's not an accurate temp system. So I've just started up cold and revved the engine from the engine bay and the expansion bottle had bubbles coming from the end of the flow tube when I revved the engine and I can also hear the sound of water trickling or bubbling when I start driving from cold! Any clues? Is the head actually cracked and the mechanic is a muppet? All help appreciated, james

[TonyN]

Gurgly noises are usually water flowing through the heater matrix, mostly for low coolant levels, but sometimes if its blocked with crud you'll get the noise too.

Can't comment of the mech, but were you sure there were no cracks or marks between the valves when the head was off?

The only way to prove it for sure is to test the coolant for exhaust gasses with a 'sniffer' test. If it fails this then you definatly have a head issue.

Why did you take the head off originally? Was it losing coolant before? In all the 2.4's I've done that are pressurising the coolant, its NEVER been anything but a cracked head when you look hard enough.

I assume your cap is new and not leaking?

[noobysurfer]

Thanks for the response, I never saw the head off, I left it with the garage for a few days. It was losing coolant so my assumption with advice from the folk on here that it was a cracked head so I had it pressure tested and it showed a fault which the mech reckoned was due to a warped head so he skimmed it and I've still got the same problem! Everyone on here that helped with my earlier thread reckon his diagnosis was wrong and these heads crack and not warp! Where or how do I go about getting a sniffer test done? Thanks,James

[gwh200]

Sorry to hear about this james. You can get a sniffer test from halfords.

[noobysurfer]

Cheers mate, I'm just raging that I still have this problem 350 quid later!! Is the sniffer a kit you buy or do they do it for you ? If I had the time I would be on the phone to bushwhacker for v8 conversion!!

[BillaBob]

Sniffer tests......................... ..............

I have seen these tests myself,but I have just looked and failed to find anything on ebay to direct you towards.If you are hearing gurgling and the coolant is at the correct level Id say realistically the chances are its the head.The only other "Invisible' places for the coolant to disappear are in the auto gearbox through the rad cooler-Check the fluid it should be cherry red NOT a Milky pink colour.If it is change the fluid Immediately and the rad,then drive for a day and change the fluid again water destroys auto boxes very quickly.It could be getting into the engine oil check this again.Very Often a crack will only be found under very close scrutiny with a mag glass and bright light + sometimes a crack detect dye.Im very sorry you have these issues still-especially when entrusting the vehicle to paid "professionals".

[yoshie]

James this is what you are after.

[noobysurfer]

Thanks Brian but I wouldn't have a scooby where to put it!! Banging me head of a wall at this point!!!

[KERRSURF]

Most garages will do the test for you.

[TonyN]

LOL, tis easy. drain a little coolant out, plug it on where rad cap goes, start motor and watch with fingers crossed.

[noobysurfer]

Ok thanks all for your help it's much appreciated. I drove down to Manchester last night and checked the expansion bottle for level this morning. The level was ok but the coolant was milky White so I'll do the dye test to confirm that it is cracked and make a decision from there!

[noobysurfer]

Finally after all the crap I've put up with over this, the surf finally ####ed itself on a petrol station forecourt!! After no leaks anywhere since the problem began,I got my source........ The heater matrix has a hole somewhere!!
So after a quick hose bypass and a top up of coolant, no visible loss after a 200 mile run. I'll check for sure when the engine goes cold so fingers crossed !! Thanks again to everyone who helped!

[gwh200]

That's a real ball ache...but a head...that's castration !

[Albannach]

The matrix is cheaper than the head, but I reckon the head is an easier job

[noobysurfer]

So I'm led to believe but I won't be fixing it!! Keeping it for a while then it's being sold as is, minus the new wheels!!