Coolant fluid dropping
Discussion
Just recently I have noticed the water level on my mk1 Elise dropping ?????
I have not detected any leaks from the system (no puddles under the car), there is no unusal performance symptoms, no funny colouring in the oil as in head gasket failure. It just keeps dropping - I have topped up twice in the last 10 days (about 1.5 pints each time.
On Saturday (very hot day) I was in slow moving traffic and the temp reached 104! Its never been that high before. It soon cooled back to 90ish once moving again but the fan never kicked in??? was it supposed too???
Hope someone can shed some light on this for me.
Cheers.
P.S. I was ocassionally getting little whisps of steam/smoke from the rads - it appears to be coming from two small deposits of smeg which seemingly align with the bonnet hinge - seems to have stopped now i've removed the unwelcome deposits.
I have not detected any leaks from the system (no puddles under the car), there is no unusal performance symptoms, no funny colouring in the oil as in head gasket failure. It just keeps dropping - I have topped up twice in the last 10 days (about 1.5 pints each time.
On Saturday (very hot day) I was in slow moving traffic and the temp reached 104! Its never been that high before. It soon cooled back to 90ish once moving again but the fan never kicked in??? was it supposed too???
Hope someone can shed some light on this for me.
Cheers.
P.S. I was ocassionally getting little whisps of steam/smoke from the rads - it appears to be coming from two small deposits of smeg which seemingly align with the bonnet hinge - seems to have stopped now i've removed the unwelcome deposits.
3 pints in 10 days is a lot . . . you either have a leak (and if there's steam coming from the rad I'd start looking there ;-)) OR you have a head gasket failure, it's' quite common on the K engine NOT to get oil/water contamination . . . definative test is a hydrocarbon gas test in the coolant header tank, over 20ppm is indicative that you have a combustion gas leak into the cooling system.
So, investigate the rad problem, and if that comes up negative (sounds unlikely) then get a hydrocarbon test. There really is no point in speculating any further, the tests above are more or less definative and give you hard facts to work from.
Oh, the cooling fan should probably have come on at 104, however the cooling system is pressurised to work p to 120C, so it's not the end of the world. Worthwhile getting the cooling fan tested asap if you have any suspicion.
Fd
So, investigate the rad problem, and if that comes up negative (sounds unlikely) then get a hydrocarbon test. There really is no point in speculating any further, the tests above are more or less definative and give you hard facts to work from.
Oh, the cooling fan should probably have come on at 104, however the cooling system is pressurised to work p to 120C, so it's not the end of the world. Worthwhile getting the cooling fan tested asap if you have any suspicion.
Fd
Cheers for info Fd,
I agree, it does seem an unusal amount of water!
Do you have any tips on checking the rad?
My experience is limited to seeing steam/water hissing out or puddles on the floor. The steam I described is only light whisps not exactly a pressurised escape?
I'll investigate the fan also, better safe than sorry.
I agree, it does seem an unusal amount of water!
Do you have any tips on checking the rad?
My experience is limited to seeing steam/water hissing out or puddles on the floor. The steam I described is only light whisps not exactly a pressurised escape?
I'll investigate the fan also, better safe than sorry.
I had this problem in my 306 - a few wisps of stema coming over the bonnet but the rad was knackered. I don't remember how much water it lost but if you consider the system is very hot and as a result under quite high pressure then it wouldn't take a gaping hole to lose a pint or so a week depending on use.
The 'smeg' you describe could be residue from leaking coolant which would point to the rad to me but I'd advise getting the coolant tested as fergusd suggests and cross your fingers.
If it's the rad you're looking at 3-400 quid to replace it as it's a front clam off job but HGF is a whole lot more.
The 'smeg' you describe could be residue from leaking coolant which would point to the rad to me but I'd advise getting the coolant tested as fergusd suggests and cross your fingers.
If it's the rad you're looking at 3-400 quid to replace it as it's a front clam off job but HGF is a whole lot more.
Hey Presto - found the problem (a little ashamed of myself also).
Its a leaky rad. I peered into the front air intake and saw a small deposit of green fluid right at the back - not enough to make its way to the floor.
I presume It was caused by a stone getting in when I drove around for a day without the grill on it (took it off to paint it) - (boy do I feel stupid).
Thanks for the help people, i'm just releieved its not the head gasket.
Its a leaky rad. I peered into the front air intake and saw a small deposit of green fluid right at the back - not enough to make its way to the floor.
I presume It was caused by a stone getting in when I drove around for a day without the grill on it (took it off to paint it) - (boy do I feel stupid).
Thanks for the help people, i'm just releieved its not the head gasket.
Changing the rad is a clam off job, there is no alternative . . . however it's not as bad as it sounds, just remember to retain the shim washers so that when you refit it it all aligns properly.
Whilst the clam is off . . .
paint the towing strut, double check the cooling fan, it's a clam off job to change that too ;-)
Fd
Whilst the clam is off . . .
paint the towing strut, double check the cooling fan, it's a clam off job to change that too ;-)
Fd
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