TOTAL MYSTERY Coolant Loss!!!!

Manicinfrance said:

Thought I ought to update and thank all for your comments as nothing new will arise now.......I have given up...

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Well, actaully I haven't given up...I am determined to cracj this so........

Can anyone suggest if its possible to have a coolant leak in the head WITHOUT any of the usual signs of this. i.e. the HC/CO2 test on the coolant is fine, there is no excessive pressure in the coolant system, temperature is rock steady, the oil is 100% with no emulsified deposits on filler cap. Could it leak somewhere INTERNALLY where it can't be seen - direct into cyclinders?

Manicinfrance said:

Well, actaully I haven't given up...I am determined to cracj this so........

Can anyone suggest if its possible to have a coolant leak in the head WITHOUT any of the usual signs of this. i.e. the HC/CO2 test on the coolant is fine, there is no excessive pressure in the coolant system, temperature is rock steady, the oil is 100% with no emulsified deposits on filler cap. Could it leak somewhere INTERNALLY where it can't be seen - direct into cyclinders?

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Hello mate, if coolant was leaking directly into the cylinders, it would show: A. in an exhaust sniff test & B. with lots of steam/white smoke.

If it's not smoking, it's unlikely to be losing coolant via the cylinders.

I'm just trying to remember, is this the problem of losing coolant quickly but then stabilising?

Dave

thebiglad said:

I'm just trying to remember, is this the problem of losing coolant quickly but then stabilising?

Dave

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Yes Dave, you remember correctly, it is that problem. Having sorted a small leak from the hose out of the water pump, which was making the level continue to drop, I am back to what I had before; coolant drops from full to bottom of tank over, say, a week of short runs, then seems to stay therabouts.
I did think, as you say, that a leak into the cylinders would be visible but with the whole external system now thoroughly checked.....what else is there?
cheers
Mike

Have always had a problem with slight fluid loss but just filled up when required. Then with the onset of the cold weather thought I'd top up the anti freeze. As soon as I topped it up, it started loosing fluid faster than ever. Checked all the hoses no leaks. Then on further investigation with a torch found water dribbling down the water pump housing. Had a look from underneath and found that there's a drain hole drilled in the casing. Figured water pump seals gone so ordered up new pump and sods law it's stopped leaking.

Thanks, I will have look underneath, but my leak slows to virtually nothing once it gets down to near the bottom of the expansion tank, so i have always been looking for a leak higher in the system than the water pump - when the WP hose outlet started leaking recently, then the fluid level kept dropping further as you would expect from a leak near the bottom of the system; now that hose is fixed its back to the way it behaved before...but i will have a look....cheers