Coolant level low - dodgy :(

[5five]

Hi,

Had my engine rebuilt (about 6000 miles ago).

The problem is that the coolant level tend to decrease after a lot of driving. This is definitely not normal.

I was thinking that it might be a damaged head gasket but can't find symptoms
The engine runs really great, starts the first time in the morning, has clean oil on dipstick, oil cap is not milky, coolant tank is clean..

Would be great to know of anyone has ever experienced this problem.

Thank you

 

[Neil Mackay]

Hi, Had my engine rebuilt (about 6000 miles ago). The problem is that the coolant level tend to decrease after a lot of driving. This is definitely not normal. I was thinking that it might be a damaged head gasket but can't find symptoms The engine runs really great, starts the first time in the morning, has clean oil on dipstick, oil cap is not milky, coolant tank is clean.. Would be great to know of anyone has ever experienced this problem. Thank you

I have had the exact symptoms you describe over last 12 months or so..... Just had both head gaskets done due to an external gasket leak!! Get some UV dye in the coolant. It may take a bit of time to work its way through but eventually it will show up a leak although you will have to get under the car to really pinpoint if the gasket is leaking externally! I'm assuming you have no white "smoke" from the tail pipes once the cars warm, or the tell tail coolant smell from the exhaust!?

 

[5five]

I have had the exact symptoms you describe over last 12 months or so..... Just had both head gaskets done due to an external gasket leak!! Get some UV dye in the coolant. It may take a bit of time to work its way through but eventually it will show up a leak although you will have to get under the car to really pinpoint if the gasket is leaking externally! I'm assuming you have no white "smoke" from the tail pipes once the cars warm, or the tell tail coolant smell from the exhaust!?

Thanks for the tip!

Once the car is warm, there is no white smoke. The car always start first time and does not show any hesitation while driving.

Actually I always fill in with tap water which is a bad habit. Never used coolant.
So....how would it smell if I had a gasket failure?
Thanks

 

[5five]

I was thinking that it might be a worn thermostat?

The engine temperature seems to be abnormal. Even when I am in traffic, the temperature does not exceed 80.

The inter-cooler fan has stopped to launch. Before I had this temperature issue, it was always spinning very quickly and it was very noisy (like a jet haha) when temperature was high.

Is it possible that a faulty thermostat is causing water/coolant loss?
I can't find any leak.....

 

[Giantvanman]

Thanks for the tip!
Actually I always fill in with tap water which is a bad habit. Never used coolant.
This is a very bad idea- coolant not only stops freezing but lubricates and prevents corrosion

So....how would it smell if I had a gasket failure?

Have you looked to see what the underside of your oil filler cap looks like? Or checked the oil level?
Thanks

I was thinking that it might be a worn thermostat?

The engine temperature seems to be abnormal. Even when I am in traffic, the temperature does not exceed 80.

80-90 is about correct for engine and shouldn't fluctuate much at all if all working correctly

Is it possible that a faulty thermostat is causing water/coolant loss?
You have to remember that the cooling system is a closed system. If you are needing to add fluid then it is going somewhere, either a leak to air or leak to engine.

I can't find any leak.....

As above

 

[Neil Mackay]

The smell will be sweet, rather than normal exhaust! Mine didn't smoke as the leak was external! Have you checked the water pump and top hose/thermostat areas for leakage!? Again, UV dye with a UV torch really helps finding tiny leaks. If your engine isn't getting upto 85-90 degrees theres a thermostat issue id have thought, and don't use tap water as its corrosive to the engine internals!!

 

[Sp!ke]

Why have you created three separate accounts to talk about different problems with the same car?

 

[5five]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies

Oil level looks fine and the cap is clean.

Engine temperature never reaches 80 and the cooling fan never launches itself. The car never overheats which is really strange.

As I remember, engine temperature used to be between '80-90' mark while waiting in traffic.

I checked for leaks but could find none... I just replaced the water pump 6000 miles ago. It would be funny if it failed.

Perhaps my car is running too cold? The thermostat is maybe causing this by letting too much water flow?