[ANNODAM]

OK, I had my radiator & thermostat replaced a couple of weeks ago as they were both up the clacker. However, now I seem to be losing water (steam) cause I'm forever topping up the overflow bottle & the radiator. There doesn't seem to be any leaks from what we can see on the garage floor, so it's obviously being lost whilst the car is being driven.

The car is not overheating either, infact it's running at a cooloer temperature than before.

Any suggestions, head gasket perhaps?

[royce]

did they replace the cap as well?

common problem is the coolant heats up and expands into the overflow, but the drain back doesnt work in the cap so doesnt suck back, giving you a low raditaotr all te time, plus when you top it up it goes into the overflow, spills out and then contracts when cool

if it wasnt leaking before and you havent overheated it, I would be checking hoses around the radiator and the drain bung in the bottom

common leak spot is up the back of the carby and around the starter motor, but it is really hard to see there

[Westie]

check heater hoses as mine went there it is a good idea to replace them anyway. Mine is an 89 and the hoses were that bad you could brake them in half as they were so hard. I also had the same symptons as you got the Rad all done and it still lost water, toppod up every 100-200k and could not find wher it came from, a there was no sign of any water in the oil.

[ANNODAM]

Thanks for your replies.

The radiator is brand new & it came with a new cap as well.

Hoses have been checked & all are fine & are also clamped on tight, as is the drain plug.

The car was leaking before with my old radiator through a couple holes but it was trickling out slowly (hardly noticeable) but now it seems to be losing a lot. Today, I drove 28 klms & I now I have to replace over a litre of water back into the radiator as its almost empty & there's hardly any coolant left in the overflow bottle either....

[royce]

hmm interesting, that much you would think youd see it

is it running rough?

is the oil milky or under the oil casp

that much loss I would get a pressure test dont to help locate it or let it warm up and idle and have a good look around

[oscar]

sounding bad

if not much water in radiator the gauge will not read hot.

[ANNODAM]

Yep, just as I suspected. Head Gasket....I am SO upset I think I'll just get rid of this car.

It was full of a brown watery-milky type substance inside the rocker cover when we removed it yesterday afternoon....

Edited to add: It looks like shit!

[steve]

don't stress too much about it. You'll have to fix it anyway before you sell it ? so you could just keep it once it's fixed? Unless you buy a new car you don't know what lemon you might get? Up to you, i don't mind what you do, it's just not worth getting too upset about it hey. (besides the cost )

[ANNODAM]

New car? Oh how I wish!

I can't afford to fix this one let alone get a new one!

Looks like it's public transport for me for a while, me thinks....

[royce]

did you remove the rocker cover when the engine was hot? all cold engines will have water condensation under the rocker cover

seriously the amount of water you are losing the sumnp would bo over flowing, try running it with the rad cap off and see if it bubbles at all


headgaskets are cheap, grab some spanners and jump in

[royce]

or go to supercheap/autobarn/repco etc and get some Car-go Seal up (NOT CHEMIWELD!!!!!!!!!!!) and some radtiator flush

follow the instructions on the bottle and you might just patch it

I did a headgasket on my 1 litre and it fixed good enough to drive for another year, used it heaps on other cars too with good success

[oscar]

yep do wat royce says, unless ya head is crcked,

there is stuff that repco sell that is a bottle off water filled with little bits if crap which can be enough to stop some cracks. i have used and had success

[ANNODAM]

Ah OK, might just try that for now & we'll see how we go. If I can hold off doing anything (expensive wise) for another six months to a year (even better) then I'll be much happier. I can save some more casholas by then.

I just paid the damn rego 3 weeks ago too.

Also, my oil was replaced just before the new radiator went in & when we checked it last night, the oil itself wasn't too bad, although under the oil cap it did resemble a coffee milkshake!

Engine was cold when rocker was removed btw.

Other than that, the car runs like a dream. I'll be sorry to see it go (if it comes to that.)

[royce]

run it to see if it does bubble

does is miss and fart when you 1st start it up? then clears up after 30 seconds or so?

I'm doubting head gasket, your losing so much water it wouldnt run

[ANNODAM]

I ran the car for about 15 mins (still running as I type actually.)


Firstly, the radiator coolant rose to the top & some has spilt onto the garage floor. It was warm to touch but not boiling hot.

Secondly, there seems to be water droplets on the garage floor from the exhaust. Not sure if that's related or not, or if that always happens (I have never noticed it before) husband isn't here right now to ask him - he would know more about that.


Car starts perfect, no misses, no farts.

[royce]

droplets in the exhaust are normal, water is forms in the exhaust

once it warms up the coolant should rise and spill then drop and be a bit steamy with no bubbles, its the bubbles that are baad

[ANNODAM]

Well I can confirm no bubbles, but I do have a light brown milky type deposit on the inside of my oil cap.

Husband has bought the Car-Go SealUp & some radiator flush so we'll be doing that probably tomorrow now....

Thanks for the tips everyone, we'll let you know how we get on!

[oscar]

leave it in dont flush it

[royce]

you have to flush 1st then put the cargo in oscar, otherwise it doesnt work

[oscar]

yeh but dont flush it out which i wat the bottle says

[ANNODAM]

So Oscar, let me get this right, you're saying leave the Car-Go SealUp in there after we flush out the rad?

[royce]

you cant really as youll have to drain it to fill with coolant anyway

I normally leave it in for 24hours though, any sealing its gunna do will be done by then

[oscar]

yeh do wateva. my mechanics usually leave it in thats why i say it. cuz its only a small bottle and u fill the rest with coolent.

[ANNODAM]

Thanks guys!