unexplained coolant loss. C124 320 engine

[mattc]

Picture the scene. Glorious day on Wednesday so head to work in the coupe and, at lunchtime, take a colleague for a very short (10 minute) run down the A5 and back before stopping off at a shop for a sandwich. Come back to car to find it having a small wee in the road which appeared to eminate from the slightly left of the engine centreline (roughly where the 2 turbos are).

I topped up with maybe 300ml and drove approxiamtely 1 miles back to work where I expected to see more water being expelled. Nothing. At the end of the day I drive the 20 or so miles home in mostly moving traffic. At no point does the temperature gauge raise itself from its usual somnambulant position of around 85 degrees (i should add I never saw it rise above this whilst I went for the lunchtime drive either). No further water loss and nothing since.

From the position of the original water loss I am "mostly" certain it did not come from the radiator overflow pipe.

I will probably take it to have the radiator pressure tested but wonder if people have any theories on what might have happened; frankly I am more perturbed that it has not continued to leak than if it had-at least then its a simple case of finding the source.

 

[kth286]

If you got air con, it's probably from there and is normal, is it not ?

 

[mattc]

If you got air con, it's probably from there and is normal, is it not ?

Never seen that much water from A/C and also I had the bonnet up and could see the reservoir level lowering so I dont think its that

 

[tonyc280]

Very very easy to tell the difference between coolant and distilled water.

 

[Sp!ke]

Strongly suspect this was just condensation from the AC - mine dumps puddles of water on a humid day.

 

[grober]

The block drain plug is around that area?

 

[mattc]

Strongly suspect this was just condensation from the AC - mine dumps puddles of water on a humid day.

But why did I need to top up the coolant which had dropped then? This is what confuses me.

 

[WDB124066]

What colour was the fluid?

 

[Auto-mobile]

But why did I need to top up the coolant which had dropped then? This is what confuses me.

Because you have a leak, get it pressure tested maybe? Are the turbos water cooled?

 

[deadmeat]

colour and smell of the water ?

 

[mattc]

Went to WDM motors this morning. They pressure tested the system with no leaks but did suggest a new rad cap as the original was a bit perished. £10 , job done hopefully.

 

[jaymanek]

Level will fluctuate from hot cold a fair bit so that may explain it?