coolant levels - help!!!

[cjn]

Dear all, My car was serviced 4k ago & the coolant was changed as normal. The water level had been a little below the minimum on the reservoir before the service but was not moving day to day. Shortly after the service, the level dropped to 5 - 10 mm below the minimum & has stayed there during the last 4k JCT600 told me that the engine will automatically find its correct level but sometimes sucks out too much leading to the level showing low. I have topped back up to halfway between the min & max levels & done about 10miles a day for the last week. The level looks to be dropping again. Is it anything to worry about if it settles at a level a little below minimum?? The temp guage runs 83 - 86 during normal operation jumping to 90ish after a bit of a spurt which i know is pretty normal. CJ

[Nightmare]

CJ, I would keep doing the topping up - and keep an idea of how much you're adding (say 500ml a time or watever). Do this each week and you'll get an idea of how much is dissapearing off into the system.... I dont suppose its a problem from what you've described, but it could be an early wanring of some bleeding pipes or rad... cheers N

[edgar]

It better be a leak somewhere and not early signs of head gasket failure. Check all clips on coolant hoses, do them up. Check the screws for draining the coolant off the radiator may need redoing properly after your last service.

[Tigga]

Check the hose joints directly on to the rads, they'v ebeen known to come away on occassion or to bleed steam whic will evacuate the system over time. also recommend keeping a log of what it's consuming - if it gets bad make sure you take out the extended warranty Lotus offer before you take it in for assessment too. might save a few quid if it does prove to be terminal....

[CJN]

I'd recently noticed that there was some dried coolant on the outside of the reservoir bottle. I dropped it in at my local dealer, they couldn't find any leaks from any of the hoses & have ordered me a new cap.

Dodgy Lotus cap me-thinks

CJ