coolant use

[mmertens]

I posed the question before, but I hope one of the guru's round here can help me because I am really not sure what to do next --

In October last year I acquired a RR cerb (from April 2001) with 3,500 on the clock. I noticed it used some water, told the dealer, they couldn't find anything but 3 weeks after I bought it it there was a lot of water in the oil - head gasket blown. Took Blackpool
some 5 weeks to fix (retooled head? had to run the sucker in again).

I got it back eventually, only to find it still uses water (maybe somewhat less). Back to dealer again (6000 miles service), they checked it (pressurising and such), couldn't find a thing. It then lost a load of coolant (steam and all) one friday afternoon. Back to dealer, they diagnosed a faulty header tank cap. Replaced that. Still loosing coolant (we're into January 02 now). Took it back again (some other stuff needed doing as well), they again pressurized the thing, looked for head gasket leaks (I suppose by checking fumes getting into the header tank?)- found 2 very minor (non-gasket) leaks due to not completely tightened hoses. I got it back again - IT IS STILL LOOSING COOLANT, at a rate of some 200 cc/50 miles. I noticed today that there is quite a bit of greenish dirt gathered above the coolant level in the header tank. Also, there seems to be a oily film on the
coolant, but I still haven't seen any emulsion on the dipstick.

I really don't know what to do about this now. I have this very uneasy feeling it just was not repaired right by Blackpool (or maybe it broke again). I could of course run it 'till it really breaks down but I don't want to do that; neither do I want to miss it for another 5 weeks. Meanwhile I keep topping it up to the seam, only to see it drop again a few days later.

Does anyone have any idea whatsoever where else coolant can go, if there are no leaks? Could there be a gasket leak whereby 1/2 - 1 pint of coolant per week goes astray, but that will not be detected by the
standard methods employed by dealers (maybe only opening up once the engine gets really heated up)?

Any comment very gratefully received.

Maarten

[bilton_d]

Hi,

It might be the filler cap isn't on tight enough mine had a very similar problem but the coolant was colectng at the NS font in the radiator tray .... but how it got there is a mystery ??? shine a torch down and see if you can see any liquid.

[dannylt]

Maarten, if you're not happy I would take it back to the TVR Centre and make that clear. They sold it to you, and they should sort it out. If not, then the factory should - it's a very new car, and one of very few Red Rose versions.

danny

[trefor]

Cracked head? Might be between a water jacket and exhaust valve if the water is just disappearing.

Hope it isn't though, but at least it's under warranty.

I'd try another dealer if the current can't fix it - maybe a second set of eyes/minds might find the problem. After all, the warranty applies to all dealers.

T/.