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ady g
Guest
sorry for the delay, been having computer problems.
it's only about 2 cupfuls that i fill up with, it's when the dashboard light bleeps and i just fill it back to the max level
it's only about 2 cupfuls that i fill up with, it's when the dashboard light bleeps and i just fill it back to the max level
I had the same this morning, topped up about 200ml.
The frequency is more like 6 months for me though. I've no idea why... there are no apparent leaks, and the 'hiss' when I take the cap off says the system is tight.
Any ideas, anyone
The frequency is more like 6 months for me though. I've no idea why... there are no apparent leaks, and the 'hiss' when I take the cap off says the system is tight.
Any ideas, anyone
Mine is a 55 plate, 23k miles, and no, the water pump hasn't been replaced. It happened before also, would have been about 15-18k when it happened last time.
Would you agree a slight 'hiss' when you unscrew the cap (when cold) means the system is air tight? I've looked all round for drips & wet patches, but can't see anything at all 
I check all the fluid levels every week, and there's no gradual drop in coolant level. It just seems the system looses about 200mm of coolant overnight, and once topped up, the level stays there for a few more months until it happens again...
Where or how it goes, nobody seems to know... like you say, it's curious...
I check all the fluid levels every week, and there's no gradual drop in coolant level. It just seems the system looses about 200mm of coolant overnight, and once topped up, the level stays there for a few more months until it happens again... Where or how it goes, nobody seems to know... like you say, it's curious...
Would you agree a slight 'hiss' when you unscrew the cap (when cold) means the system is air tight? I've looked all round for drips & wet patches, but can't see anything at all
Where or how it goes, nobody seems to know... like you say, it's curious...
The hiss just means it's under pressure. That same pressure could be driving minute quantities of coolant/steam out of a seal or joint.
ady g
Guest
i recently looked up some old threads on this site and someone had a similar problem with a cordoba loosing coolant, he found out that his mix was too weak which caused it to boil to early which made him loose his level through steam.
after reading this i got my mix checked and it was very weak, i got some emptied out by the garage and then they topped up with anti-freeze until the mix was correct. it seems to have worked so far
after reading this i got my mix checked and it was very weak, i got some emptied out by the garage and then they topped up with anti-freeze until the mix was correct. it seems to have worked so far
ady_g - a quick questions for you on this;
How did you test to know your mixture was too weak? as i need to check mine before long weekend trip and not up for any issues happening. Cheers
How did you test to know your mixture was too weak? as i need to check mine before long weekend trip and not up for any issues happening. Cheers
I'd be interested to know how the mixture is tested.
Hope it's not by taste, if you die it's too strong etc..
If it makes any difference I've not had to touch mine or top up from one service to the next. Granted only covered 5000 miles but it didn't need a top up.
Hope it's not by taste, if you die it's too strong etc..
If it makes any difference I've not had to touch mine or top up from one service to the next. Granted only covered 5000 miles but it didn't need a top up.
Beware of checking levels after driving home then comparing to the level in the morning. (it will be lower).
The coolant level will be higher when its hot than when its cold. (as comfirmed by the fact it hisses when you remove the cap if the coolant is warm/hot and not when its cold).
If you keep topping it up to max when its cold then it may be too high when its hot.
This may mean the pressure in the system is higher when at operating temperature as you cant compress water! however if its only a little over max when hot you should be ok.
This could, in turn mean that coolant is forced out somewhere. There are a few places in the system where there are rubber rings, for example on the pipe coming off the bottom of the radiator. (there is also a drain tap here FYI) I would imagine its more than possible for the coolant to force its way out of places like this if the pressure is high enough as there is a single rubber ring used to seal this.
It would also be difficult to see a leak here unless you get under car and remove the undertray and bumper! in fact, the rate you are loosing coolant will be difficult to trace.
The question id ask is this:
When you say the level is low, how low is it?
Is it actually below the minimum marker of the expansion tank? or are you going by the bleeping flashing light on the dash in the morning only?
This sensor (in the expansion tank) is a known problem, you may find once you have driven a little and turn the ingition off and then on again it stops. (of course its possible the level is low also). But given you are only putting in a couple of cups to get it to maximum id say it may not actually need topping up in the first place?
PS im on my second leon, neither have needed topping up in about 4-5 years combined motoring and both have suffered from the sensor issue. (false reading of low on cold start up).
The coolant level will be higher when its hot than when its cold. (as comfirmed by the fact it hisses when you remove the cap if the coolant is warm/hot and not when its cold).
If you keep topping it up to max when its cold then it may be too high when its hot.
This may mean the pressure in the system is higher when at operating temperature as you cant compress water! however if its only a little over max when hot you should be ok.
This could, in turn mean that coolant is forced out somewhere. There are a few places in the system where there are rubber rings, for example on the pipe coming off the bottom of the radiator. (there is also a drain tap here FYI) I would imagine its more than possible for the coolant to force its way out of places like this if the pressure is high enough as there is a single rubber ring used to seal this.
It would also be difficult to see a leak here unless you get under car and remove the undertray and bumper! in fact, the rate you are loosing coolant will be difficult to trace.
The question id ask is this:
When you say the level is low, how low is it?
Is it actually below the minimum marker of the expansion tank? or are you going by the bleeping flashing light on the dash in the morning only?
This sensor (in the expansion tank) is a known problem, you may find once you have driven a little and turn the ingition off and then on again it stops. (of course its possible the level is low also). But given you are only putting in a couple of cups to get it to maximum id say it may not actually need topping up in the first place?
PS im on my second leon, neither have needed topping up in about 4-5 years combined motoring and both have suffered from the sensor issue. (false reading of low on cold start up).
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Would you agree a slight 'hiss' when you unscrew the cap (when cold) means the system is air tight? I've looked all round for drips & wet patches, but can't see anything at all
Where or how it goes, nobody seems to know... like you say, it's curious...
not sure it should hiss when you remove the cap when cold, you also topped up when cold as the pressure should be similair. (or the hissing should be significantly less).
If you removed cap when hot, topped up, then replaced cap you could get a hiss when cold, but due to vacum and not pressure...
ady g
Guest
if you go to any decent garage they should be able to test it for you with a nifty gadget, don't worry they don't drink it
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