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+--- Thread: Hmmm...could be loosing coolant. (/showthread.php?tid=7450)
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Hmmm...could be loosing coolant. - jimxms - 01-04-2019
So I topped up my coolant last week after noticing that there was nothing in the reservoir at all. The car has probably traveled 50 miles since then, but last night I checked the coolant level again to find that it had gone down probably 2-3cm.
I felt around the aftermarket upper radiator hose that I fitted last week and there is no moisture or any signs of sticky pink/white coolant so I don't think there is a leak there.
The splash tray under the car does have some white/pink residue on it but that's been there for about a year and when I put my hand on it it didn't feel damp.
Could it be that because my coolant level was left to run empty previously (and I replaced my radiator hose) that the coolant level has dropped because it has had a chance to fill some of the 'gaps' that may have been lacking coolant from before?
I suppose the only way to tell is if I top it up again and see what happens? Is there anything else I can do to determine if I have a leak from somewhere?
Hmmm...could be loosing coolant. - Rabster - 01-04-2019
id say itd filled some of the gaps mate if you cant see any visible signs and its not sitting on the driver of floor it should be ok id check it again in a day or so
Hmmm...could be loosing coolant. - jimxms - 01-04-2019
Rabster id say itd filled some of the gaps mate if you cant see any visible signs and its not sitting on the driver of floor it should be ok id check it again in a day or so
Cool Cool. I did put a bit of cardboard under the car when I very first noticed I didn't have any coolant in there, but I've not seen any staining on it so far, so fingers crossed it is just filling the gaps.
Otherwise I might set some cash aside for a new rad and water pump. Considering the rad has to come out when the supercharger goes in, and half the bolts for the water pump have to be removed to bolt the S/C bracket on, I don't know if it might be a good idea to replace them anyway?
Hmmm...could be loosing coolant. - Phil01 - 01-04-2019
top it up again to the top mark and leave it for another week or so,
Strange as it might sound, some cars have a natural coolant level once settled and this is the point that no other lose occurs.
Don't worry too much at this early stage.
Hmmm...could be loosing coolant. - jimxms - 01-04-2019
Phil01 top it up again to the top mark and leave it for another week or so,
Strange as it might sound, some cars have a natural coolant level once settled and this is the point that no other lose occurs.
Don't worry too much at this early stage.
Cheers for the reassurance matey. Is it worth me doing anything like running a seal of masking tape around the water pump and radiator hoses to see if they get stained at all?
Hmmm...could be loosing coolant. - Phil01 - 01-04-2019
I would leave it for a week or two as you have just recently done coolant work, it can take one or two top ups before it has reached its natural level.
Before all this had happened and you played with your top hose, (not being rude), when was the last time you checked your level and topped up?, if ages ago I guess you dont have a problem as it would have shown signs of overheating by then as the level would have been excessively low
Hmmm...could be loosing coolant. - Phil01 - 01-04-2019
Also remember the Lex IS cooling system on the expansion side is not sealed, so natural evaporation will occur.
Hmmm...could be loosing coolant. - jimxms - 01-04-2019
Phil01 I would leave it for a week or two as you have just recently done coolant work, it can take one or two top ups before it has reached its natural level.
Before all this had happened and you played with your top hose, (not being rude), when was the last time you checked your level and topped up?, if ages ago I guess you dont have a problem as it would have shown signs of overheating by then as the level would have been excessively low
To be honest, the first time I checked my coolant level was after I swapped the hose. But when I swapped it, the hose only had a very small puddle of coolant in the bottom of it, so that's what got me wondering if it was running low.
N00b that I am, i checked the coolant level by taking off the radiator cap (duhhh) as I didn't even see the tank behind the rad. It wasn't until a few days later that I found out that the tank existed and when I checked it was bone dry.
The last time the coolant was checked + filled would have been at 52k, I'm now at 58k.
Phil01 Also remember the Lex IS cooling system on the expansion side is not sealed, so natural evaporation will occur.
:thumbup1:
Hmmm...could be loosing coolant. - Phil01 - 01-04-2019
Leave it a little while longer before you need to worry mate,
My first IS needed about half a litre every 3-4 weeks, too me that was such a small lose I did not worry about it and just topped it up. It was leaking from the top radiator corner, and I did not think spending over £100plus was worth the cost when i could so easily top it up,
Hmmm...could be loosing coolant. - toxo - 01-04-2019
+1 for what Phil's said. Any air in the system will naturally work its way to the top over time.
If you're really concerned about it find a local garage with a pressure tester - they fit onto the radiator cap point and pressurise the coolant system to locate leaks.