Loosing Coolant as car cools.
Discussion
Just bought an Hyundai i40 with the 1.7 engine.
The lad I bought it of was a bit of Wally but I'm thinking harmless Wally.
It needs a new clutch, which was no suprise and priced accordingly.
I noted when I picked it up the coolant tank was overfilled and looked pale and I asked about it. He mentioned it looked loo w so he'd filled it with plain water. The full mark on the tank is probably around a third to half capacity and he'd filled to to a generous three quarters.
Tank didn't smell, bubble and no mayo anywhere.
Drove it home 100miles and checked again and it was fine, just over full and it had gained some colour suggesting it had just been filled and had now mixed.
Its sat for a week then I've used it for last couple of days. Today I've gone back to the car after leaving it for a couple of hours and noticed that there is small patch of damp under the rad. Popped the bonnet and it looks like water has been coming from the cap atop the radiator.
Are we thinking this is just the excess being expelled as the engine cools?
The lad I bought it of was a bit of Wally but I'm thinking harmless Wally.
It needs a new clutch, which was no suprise and priced accordingly.
I noted when I picked it up the coolant tank was overfilled and looked pale and I asked about it. He mentioned it looked loo w so he'd filled it with plain water. The full mark on the tank is probably around a third to half capacity and he'd filled to to a generous three quarters.
Tank didn't smell, bubble and no mayo anywhere.
Drove it home 100miles and checked again and it was fine, just over full and it had gained some colour suggesting it had just been filled and had now mixed.
Its sat for a week then I've used it for last couple of days. Today I've gone back to the car after leaving it for a couple of hours and noticed that there is small patch of damp under the rad. Popped the bonnet and it looks like water has been coming from the cap atop the radiator.
Are we thinking this is just the excess being expelled as the engine cools?
Fluid does not be expelled when the engine cools, if anything if there is an overflow, it will be drawn back in.
It is more likely some has been expelled when it heated up, and you're only noticing it on the ground etc because you've stopped. Even more likely if it was overfilled to start with.
Ensure the level is at a normal place when cold, and monitor it.
Either that or it's just a simple leak somewhere.
It is more likely some has been expelled when it heated up, and you're only noticing it on the ground etc because you've stopped. Even more likely if it was overfilled to start with.
Ensure the level is at a normal place when cold, and monitor it.
Either that or it's just a simple leak somewhere.
Cheers
I think I can see a trail in the dust down from the cap suggesting it's blown out of the rad cap.
That said I think there is a leak too!
It's been a while since I bought a radiator and just priced them up, £50-100 I'm pretty sure my last one was about £200!
Next issue is there is a light buzz.... Buzz.... Buzz... Coming from the engine area. Initially thought it was something on the aux belt with a dry bearing or a worn belt. But it doesn't change with engine speed. Goes off when I turn the AC on. Not sure if it some sort of electric motor running back and forth.
I think I can see a trail in the dust down from the cap suggesting it's blown out of the rad cap.
That said I think there is a leak too!
It's been a while since I bought a radiator and just priced them up, £50-100 I'm pretty sure my last one was about £200!
Next issue is there is a light buzz.... Buzz.... Buzz... Coming from the engine area. Initially thought it was something on the aux belt with a dry bearing or a worn belt. But it doesn't change with engine speed. Goes off when I turn the AC on. Not sure if it some sort of electric motor running back and forth.
Had this on a car before, couldn't see any leaks/steam when hot, pressure test revealed no leaks but coolant was slowly going down. Turned out to be a rad hose which wasn't as tight as it should have been. Didn't leak when warm as everything expanded and seemed tight then but when stone cold, a small leak appeared as everything contracted. Tightened jubilee clip and all ok so maybe check all connections are tight when cold if you haven't done already. Took a while for me to find it as expected leaks to occur when engine gets warm and pressure built but was the opposite.
Could be the pressure in the system as the coolant will expand and get hotter from heat soak when you turn off the engine and the rad cap maybe the pressure release. You could remove the excess coolant using a syringe or turkey baster or the drain plug on the rad ( some have them, some don't) which should reduce the pressure in the system and therefore should stop the cap overflowing/leaking. Apologies if you already know this but be mindful that even a small amount of antifreeze can be ' attractive ' to animals causing them harm ......from google ; 'Many animals like the sweet taste of antifreeze and will readily consume it when given the opportunity. However, antifreeze, even in the smallest amounts, can have a very harmful and often fatal effect on your pet or wildlife. A single teaspoon will kill a cat and a tablespoonful will kill a 10-pound dog.'
Could be the pressure in the system as the coolant will expand and get hotter from heat soak when you turn off the engine and the rad cap maybe the pressure release. You could remove the excess coolant using a syringe or turkey baster or the drain plug on the rad ( some have them, some don't) which should reduce the pressure in the system and therefore should stop the cap overflowing/leaking. Apologies if you already know this but be mindful that even a small amount of antifreeze can be ' attractive ' to animals causing them harm ......from google ; 'Many animals like the sweet taste of antifreeze and will readily consume it when given the opportunity. However, antifreeze, even in the smallest amounts, can have a very harmful and often fatal effect on your pet or wildlife. A single teaspoon will kill a cat and a tablespoonful will kill a 10-pound dog.'
Edited by classicfred on Friday 3rd June 05:22
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