Coolant Leak & Empty Expansion Tank

[OscarJ]

Hey all

First post here since getting my Chimaera 450. Collected it just before this cold weather so with it warming up today decided to see what jobs to do before heading out soon (hopefully!).

Noticed some small blue puddles on the floor (LH and RH side, front of engine bay) so assumed that there’s a coolant leak.





So then checked the expansion tank…




Not bone dry, but yeah… empty and I guess that’s empty to the point where air is into the system.

From this point I guess action plan should be:

1 - find the leak(s)? Looks like the switch on the top of the rad is potential based on below….




… but most of the coolant seemed to be on the other side when looking at the chassis (below) so perhaps more than one leak point…



2 - then refill and bleed. I think I found a very detailed thread on here about this regarding filling the swirl tank etc

[Belle427]

Pretty much as you suggest, it's worth going through all the hose clamps to check them.
Radiators can leak too usually at the bottom.
Should be fairly easy to spot them when warmed up.

[portzi]

Is yours the green anonymous car from Facebook? Welcome to the TVR world. How long have you actually had the car?

If it was a dealer purchase l would get them to fix it, as this should not be happening.

If private sale, that is bad from the seller selling a car that has a potential radiator leak, or it's really bad luck on your part.

Check otter switch is niped up tight and fibre washer is sealing the otter switch to the aluminium radiator

As the previous posts have suggested check all silicone hose clips first.

Fingers crossed it is this issue for you.

Edited by portzi on Sunday 12th January 19:21

Edited by portzi on Sunday 12th January 19:26

[OscarJ]

Yeah…. Hopefully just bad luck. The car was not used much over the past few years but it was MOT’d a few days before Christmas so I would assume if it was leaking at that time then it would have gotten a mention in the MOT.

Will take a look at the joints I can access and check the switch. To help identify any leak location am I OK to half fill the expansion tank, and then when I think it’s resolved start the process from swirl tank?

And… coolant… standard stuff from screwfix is ok? link

Edited by OscarJ on Sunday 12th January 19:51

[Belle427]

Coolant wise you are better off sticking to whats in there as its not a good idea to mix them, it looks like a standard blue to me which can be a little harder to track down locally these days.

[WOO5IE]

Hi just be aware that the expansion tank is normally not full.
Each car is slightly different but generally the normal level of water is no more than half full.
Mine finds its own level around 2 inches from the bottom
I hope you enjoy the car they are great

[portzi]

Belle427 said:

Coolant wise you are better off sticking to whats in there as its not a good idea to mix them, it looks like a standard blue to me which can be a little harder to track down locally these days.

Have a chat with the former keeper, he should know what's in it, or the garage he used for servicing, repairs etc.

[PabloGee]

Definitely worth asking.

When I first had my car, before I understood the system I added a top up of coolant to the expansion pot, some blue stuff I had in the shed.
Then I read about what was best for a Rover V8, and asked the previous owner what he'd put in. The organic red stuff.

Therefore my first bit of work on my car was to entirely flush the coolant system out and renew it with blue stuff.
The advice I got was simplified - green and blue are compatible, red is not compatible with anything else and will turn to porridge if mixed.

[sixor8]

Undiluted basic blue antifreeze can be pricey, I think Eurocarparts have it.

You can get pre mixed blue stuff at Home Bargains / Poundshops. It was £1 per litre 3 yrs ago but seems to be £1.99 per litre now.

[TarquinMX5]

If the car still has the original steel 'S-shaped' metal pipe which goes across the chassis between the lower rad and the block, check that as well as they're known to corrode. Many cars have had replacement stainless pipes fitted over the years, which are much better.

[Fez887]

The great coolant colour debate! Well known TVR specialist says red is fine and blue is the one to avoid? I gave up on this debate recently as 25 people (including all the well known specialists) give you a different answer.

Bottom line - provided the mix is correct, most are fine.

[Fez887]

Just as a follow up - most are in an agreement that if you intend to change the colour, you need to ensure you flush every last bit of the old colour out, as mixing them isn’t good.

[Belle427]

Comma super cold master is one that has been recommended before.