Anyone good with car problems?

[lemonkettaz]

Hi,

I think I may have an issue, although Im not exactly good with car problem solving,

However, the problem seems to be with the coolant, I seem to be having to be topping it up quite regular.

I only really drive when Im travelling north from the south, as in I do about 500miles there and back on average twice a month.

I've checked the oil and there isnt any mix with water and I've had a general look around and can't tell of any obvious leaking.

In about 5month I've had to refill the coolant level 3/4times.

Could this just be a tiny leak somewhere?

 

[Berger]

Could this just be a tiny leak somewhere?

Yes, next question.

 

[lemonkettaz]

How much is something like this likely to set me back?

 

[pepsilol]

Depends where the leak is....

Could be leaking from waterpump, termostat, radiator or any of the pipes etc.

Why don't you just go to a garage and tell them the issue, they will find the issue and price it up for you.

How do you really expect us to guess how much it's going to cost without knowing:

1. What car it is.
2. Where the leak is coming from.

 

[Dr Who]

Other than leaving the car idling for a long time, it is difficult to trace leaks. You can spend hours under the bonnet with a torch looking for traces of anti-freeze near all possible areas.

 

[bmh.01]

Also, what are you refilling it with?

 

[lemonkettaz]

Just ready mix coolant.

Its a 207 by the way.

 

[ChocolateStarfishRammer]

Any white smoke from exhaust? Even only a little bit?

 

[lemonkettaz]

No

 

[ChocolateStarfishRammer]

Then yes its probably just a small leak from a hose or rad as Pepsilol said.

Without knowing exactly where its coming from, thats where this thread ends.

If you cant find it yourself, take it to a trusted garage.

 

[Maccapacca]

Try the expansion bottle overflow / return the little hose, twice now on two different cars the stupid crimp clip is not man enough and under high pressure leaks, swap it for a proper jubilee clip see if that solves it should be about £1

 

[lemonkettaz]

Would that be the small tube near the top of the overflow bottle?

 

[Maccapacca]

Yup

 

[Disco Boy]

If you're having car problems I feel bad for you son,
I got 99 problems but a car ain't one.

Also in answer to your question:
Yes the fact that the level is going down means that it is leaking...

 

[Nomisf]

If you're having car problems I feel bad for you son,
I got 99 problems but ma whip ain't one.

Gangsta

Have a look around the engine bay for any white crusty looking deposits coming from pipes/joins, as this is a good indicator that coolant is getting out.

 

[dalin80]

If it has one of the abomination hdi engines check the semi-flexi plastic coolant pipes on the right hand side of the engine above the gearbox, they often rub through a tiny pin hole.

 

[atpbx]

I would agree with the poster who suggested looking at the joints, any of them that are just pushed over a nozzle then clamped in place with a spring clip are likely to leak after a time.
The rubber hardens then cracks and just doesn't seal properly.

Before doing that however I'd dump some rad seal in the system and top it off with coolant as that will fix most tiny leaks without the associated fuss that goes with findin them.

 

[lemonkettaz]

Well it finally got worse where now there is a clear dripping underneath where the radiator is.

Taken it to a garage just now, they will look at it later and give me a quote...

Anyone know what sort of price range it could be and what price it definitely won't be if they try and rinse my wallet?

 

[rexehuk]

Get a bottle of radsweld... I had same issue with my clio.

Used a bottle of that and it stopped before I sold it on to the purchaser .

The leak was quite bad, literally had to carry around 4 litres of water with me.

 

[SB118]

Get a bottle of K-Seal, it's the new "thing" for sorting water leaks, supposed to be able to slow down blown headgaskets so it should be able to sort a leaky rad.