Anything to be concerned about? Coolant on bottle

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bankz5152

bankz5152

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Just noticed this today. Happened a few times before, anything to worry about?

Temp gauge has never moved off 1/3rd, rads only a couple years old (nissens)

20200205_095241.jpg
 
It could be over pressurising, start the engine, let it get to operating temp then SLOWLY and CAREFULLY loosen the cap on top of the bottle, if it froths everywhere suspect a blown head gasket.
 
wireman said:
It could be over pressurising, start the engine, let it get to operating temp then SLOWLY and CAREFULLY loosen the cap on top of the bottle, if it froths everywhere suspect a blown head gasket.
Click to expand...

Shall do.

Well thats not ideal....

Heaters hot, oil smells like oil and not emfulsified. Doesnt breath heavy. No white smoke on start up/idle/revving

Doesnt appear to be using coolant either, ive topped up maybe 100ml in the past year (12-14k miles)

133k or so serviced every 6k
 
Last edited:
it may be that there was just a bit too much in it (the fill line is half way up the bottle IIRC) and/or dripped off the cap when you last took it off. If all the other usual tell-tale signs of CHG failure aren't there then maybe its ok... As TOM1979 says it could be a knackered cap, could be worth swapping that to see if it helps - cheaper than an engine rebuild.
 
New genuine cap ordered.

Just ran up to temp (idleing) removed the cap. There was an initial bubble but other wise dead flat.



Could it just be getting a bit hot and splurging out?

Top hose is soft too.
 
might have just been a historical sudden air lock burp, my jag did that about a year ago was hooked up to my diag at home not opened cap for months gurgle spurt etc .....does not sound too much to worry about etc but i know the feeling you going to be checking it for next few days, if seal has a micro tear it will get worse everytime you do to check, why do we put ourselves through this mystery stuff drives me nuts!
 
For what it's worth mine does this too. There's often a trace of dried coolant on the outside of the bottle. A cheap new cap makes no difference, whereas an expensive new cap cures it for a few months sometimes. It sloshes around as you drive along and the pressure forces it out of the breather. The breather is supposed to let it breathe after all. Obviously, I remain alert to other symptoms of a blown gasket such as steam in the exhaust, oil in the water, water in the oil, overheating, traces of exhaust gas in the water et cetera. but it's been like this for 100,000 miles in my ownership and doesn't seem to be getting worse. Mine's not remapped, as it goes faster than all UK limits in standard tune, but I do drive it flat out.
 
New OEM cap and running the header tank about 10mm lower than the level mark works for me.
I guessing the lower level means less sloshing on the cap so less mess. Been running happily like this
for years.
 
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