Coolant leak

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Discussion

scoobyslayer

Original Poster:

172 posts

208 months

Saturday 5th December 2015
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On 05 plate monaro VXR. Took it to get some petrol and noticed coolant pissing out. Got home and it seems like it's coming from the coolant bottle end but not 100% sure.

Typical as I had it at monkfish last week and they warned me bout a possible coolant leak but I was more interested in sorting the problem that it went in there for.

Is there any common hoses that go on these?


Janosh

1,745 posts

173 months

Saturday 5th December 2015
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If it's a hose, it's likely to be the one routed above the chassis rail on the driver side.

It's more likely to be your expansion tank lid... or less likely it could be the water pump.

If none of those then you'll probably need a new rad.

THUNDER STORM

1,261 posts

175 months

Saturday 5th December 2015
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Janosh said:
If it's a hose, it's likely to be the one routed above the chassis rail on the driver side.

It's more likely to be your expansion tank lid... or less likely it could be the water pump.

If none of those then you'll probably need a new rad.
Check all water hoses especially where a jubilee clip from another hose touches the water hose, yes the expansion tank and dont forget the radiator cap (known fault).

If radiator check the plastic end pieces, some times hard to see where its leaking until its too late.
If you want a radiator go for the all ali one from Monkfish.

Hope its a simple thing.

Adebyebye

scoobyslayer

Original Poster:

172 posts

208 months

Saturday 5th December 2015
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Thanks for the reply guys. Im hoping to jack the car up this week and have a proper look at it. Will update soon

scoobyslayer

Original Poster:

172 posts

208 months

Sunday 6th December 2015
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Checked the car over and couldn't see any hoses split or clips loose, radiator no leaks or water pump. Started it up and after bout 5 - 10mins the radiator started making a noise and water was coming out of the radiator cap so I'm thinking a air lock in the system somewhere?

Janosh

1,745 posts

173 months

Sunday 6th December 2015
quotequote all
Sounds like it's just a faulty rad cap, which is a common problem.

Get a new one ordered ASAP and hopefully that'll sort the leak smile

scoobyslayer

Original Poster:

172 posts

208 months

Sunday 6th December 2015
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Cool I hope your right. Will order one from monkfish right away.

Madgehsv

113 posts

135 months

Sunday 6th December 2015
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I always change them rad caps every 20,000 miles... After that time I start to loose coolant...

scoobyslayer

Original Poster:

172 posts

208 months

Sunday 6th December 2015
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So what happens with the old rad cap then? Do the rubbers wear out and this causes it to leak through?

monkfish1

11,691 posts

230 months

Monday 7th December 2015
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Janosh said:
Sounds like it's just a faulty rad cap, which is a common problem.

Get a new one ordered ASAP and hopefully that'll sort the leak smile
What he said ^^^^^. Likely to be the cap. Pretty common.

scoobyslayer

Original Poster:

172 posts

208 months

Monday 7th December 2015
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monkfish1 said:
What he said ^^^^^. Likely to be the cap. Pretty common.
Ordered one from yourselves Sunday so hopefully that solves the problem.

neiljohnson

11,298 posts

213 months

Tuesday 8th December 2015
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scoobyslayer said:
So what happens with the old rad cap then? Do the rubbers wear out and this causes it to leak through?
They act as a pressure release valve & the springs go weak

scoobyslayer

Original Poster:

172 posts

208 months

Tuesday 8th December 2015
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neiljohnson said:
They act as a pressure release valve & the springs go weak
Thanks for pointing that out.

scoobyslayer

Original Poster:

172 posts

208 months

Tuesday 8th December 2015
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May sound like a stupid question but do you tighten the cap fully or just one or two clicks?

scoobyslayer

Original Poster:

172 posts

208 months

Tuesday 8th December 2015
quotequote all
Right put the new cap on and run it for 10mins with no leaks this time but the temp guage was creeping up so I turned it off to let it cool down and then checked all the pipes to see if they were hot and not all of them was so I thought air lock in the system. Undone the rad cap and squeeze the pipes to get rid of the air lock and run in for bout 30mins and its all good :-)

Didn't have any anti freeze tho so I'm gonna get some tomorrow but do you fill it up from the coolant bottle end or rad cap?

ARAF

20,759 posts

229 months

Tuesday 8th December 2015
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scoobyslayer said:
Right put the new cap on and run it for 10mins with no leaks this time but the temp guage was creeping up so I turned it off to let it cool down and then checked all the pipes to see if they were hot and not all of them was so I thought air lock in the system. Undone the rad cap and squeeze the pipes to get rid of the air lock and run in for bout 30mins and its all good :-)

Didn't have any anti freeze tho so I'm gonna get some tomorrow but do you fill it up from the coolant bottle end or rad cap?
With the engine off, take some liquid out from the rad cap, and replace with anti freeze. Check for air locks again, and job done. smile

snowwolf

11,503 posts

181 months

Tuesday 8th December 2015
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Glad it's sorted, the large top pipes from rad will stay cool until the engine is near up to temperature, that's when the thermostat will open and let the flow of water begin and then all the hoses will be hot.

Good way of checking if your stat is stuck is to start up from cold, run for 4 mins, if large top rad hoses warm up then stat is stuck open and needs changing.

Edited by snowwolf on Tuesday 8th December 19:39

scoobyslayer

Original Poster:

172 posts

208 months

Tuesday 8th December 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for advice guys