My dashboard is lying

Biohazard · 14 May 2013 at 18:35

Dogbreath said:
He's talking arse about the filter, it clearly wasn't tightened enough and he's covering his backside. However, it's quite possible for there to be a reasonable amount of oil left in the sump after the level has fallen off the end of the dipstick.

Half your sump?

In saying that, I've never owned or worked on a pug. I hate the crappy things.

Biohazard · 14 May 2013 at 18:39

Merlin5 said:
Well yeah, my thought is also that it shouldn't come loose if tightened properly.
I'll check with peugeot on these points.

You got a haynes for it?

Yes, it is quite vital it is secure. These things don't just undo, or aren't typically designed to be tightened, run, then tightened again. If there are two stages to any torquing, it's done before the job is finished.

Dangerous Dave · 14 May 2013 at 19:53

What model of 307 is it ? I had exactly the same symptoms with a 110 HDI model and it turned out to be the head gasket. It was between two cylinders and the water channels so no water mixed with the oil, the coolant system was getting pressurised causing it to leak small amounts of coolant from the coolant bottle. The specialist that changed it said it was fairly common fault.

Merlin5 · 14 May 2013 at 21:15

2.0 HDi 90bhp. Well I noticed a patch on the road under my car this morning in line with the coolant expansion tank. It wasn't a puddle, just a bit damp and putting my finger on it, it felt like water. Drove to work, parked, came back to it a couple of hours later, checked again and saw a similar patch. I'm kind of assuming they were from my car, in which case, perhaps there's a small leak from the coolant bottle or a hose? I'm hoping so anyway, as I assume that would rule out the head gasket?

Having done some googling on loose oil filters, yeah, everyone does say they don't come loose, and that they generally get tighter over time. There was one case I read where an oil filter developed a hair line crack, leaking oil and eventually loosening the filter. But unless mine has a crack, I'm going to assume my mechanic was negligent (rare for him, at least, for my cars he's done) and simply didn't tighten it enough. Very annoying! I know he was not at full health just getting over a bad case of flu which had lasted weeks. I can only assume he made this mistake due to that, because it's unlike him, (in my experience anyway). In two minds now whether to use him again or just tell him at the next service to make sure everything is tight.

miniyazz · 14 May 2013 at 21:40

Merlin5 said:
2.0 HDi 90bhp. Well I noticed a patch on the road under my car this morning in line with the coolant expansion tank. It wasn't a puddle, just a bit damp and putting my finger on it, it felt like water. Drove to work, parked, came back to it a couple of hours later, checked again and saw a similar patch. I'm kind of assuming they were from my car, in which case, perhaps there's a small leak from the coolant bottle or a hose? I'm hoping so anyway, as I assume that would rule out the head gasket?

Or it could be the air con condenser doing its thing.. do you have air con?

Merlin5 · 14 May 2013 at 21:45

miniyazz said:
Or it could be the air con condenser doing its thing.. do you have air con?

No, just a regular heater motor. A few weeks ago, I had an auto electrician replace my heater motor as my mine had died. Could this be in any way connected, could he have disturbed something?

Biohazard · 14 May 2013 at 21:57

Merlin5 said:
2.0 HDi 90bhp. Well I noticed a patch on the road under my car this morning in line with the coolant expansion tank. It wasn't a puddle, just a bit damp and putting my finger on it, it felt like water. Drove to work, parked, came back to it a couple of hours later, checked again and saw a similar patch. I'm kind of assuming they were from my car, in which case, perhaps there's a small leak from the coolant bottle or a hose? I'm hoping so anyway, as I assume that would rule out the head gasket?

It would seem like it, if you have the weather secure some newspaper under the engine bay and check it in the morning it would be easier to determine what it is if it's a slow leak. If it is, then yes it could be header tank, hose/clips, radiator, heater matrix, oil exchanger, water pump gasket, even a split in the block.

Merlin5 said:
Having done some googling on loose oil filters, yeah, everyone does say they don't come loose, and that they generally get tighter over time. There was one case I read where an oil filter developed a hair line crack, leaking oil and eventually loosening the filter. But unless mine has a crack, I'm going to assume my mechanic was negligent (rare for him, at least, for my cars he's done) and simply didn't tighten it enough. Very annoying! I know he was not at full health just getting over a bad case of flu which had lasted weeks. I can only assume he made this mistake due to that, because it's unlike him, (in my experience anyway). In two minds now whether to use him again or just tell him at the next service to make sure everything is tight.

It's up to you, I'd certainly let him know you are disappointed that something so easy, and important, was overlooked.

Biohazard · 14 May 2013 at 22:01

Merlin5 said:
No, just a regular heater motor. A few weeks ago, I had an auto electrician replace my heater motor as my mine had died. Could this be in any way connected, could he have disturbed something?

It could, and yes.

Merlin5 · 14 May 2013 at 22:10

Biohazard said:
It could, and yes.

I bet if I went back to the auto electrician, he'd say my water leak has absolutely nothing to do with anything he did. Still, I will call him and at least mention it.

Biohazard said:
It would seem like it, if you have the weather secure some newspaper under the engine bay and check it in the morning it would be easier to determine what it is if it's a slow leak. If it is, then yes it could be header tank, hose/clips, radiator, heater matrix, oil exchanger, water pump gasket, even a split in the block.

Rainy here, but I was intending to do that, yes.

Merlin5 · 13 Jun 2013 at 16:36

Update: coolant leak now fixed.

Since last posting here I've been topping the coolant up almost every day but it was starting to get critical. Water was leaking more rapidly than before and also a mild squeaking type noise had developed. Had my mechanic over on monday and I showed him the water dripping onto the road under the car. "Water pump" he immediately said and got on the phone to order one. But he left it late in the day to get to me, said it's a few hours work to get to the pump and couldn't do it till next monday. I've got to use the car a lot this week and weekend so I rang around some garages, all quoting me £400 or just over for about 4 hours work. My builder was at my place this week doing some work at my place and recommended me a garage at the top of my street run by romanians, he said they're good. So I rang them yesterday and said I really need it done asap. Their hourly rate was decent, £40ph + vat. They quoted me £299 and I got them down to £250. Left them my spare key last night, dropped the car outside their place this morning and took the train to work. Got back at 3.30pm, all done. I'd also asked them to replace my reverse light bulb and brake light bulb which they did and they didn't charge me for that. Very professional looking setup when I got to their reception, even sweets on the table.

So I'm pretty happy.