Excessive water use

I have a 87 N/A 90 diesel and its started to use a lot of water, about 2 pints every 100 miles, i'm at a loss to see why...theres no signs of leakage...the engine runs fine so im not sure the headgaskets gone. Just seems to need filling up regularly...any ideas out there? Mark

put some talc all over the engine , it will show up damp patches so you can locate the leak.

is the oil looking ok?

nobber said:

put some talc all over the engine , it will show up damp patches so you can locate the leak.

is the oil looking ok?

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Yeah, oils ok, seems to have a bit more white smoke on start up than normal, but that soon clears may also be due to the temperature has dropped drastically the past few days here, noticed the problem when the heater just blew very cold...but it still drives 45 miles each way to work no problem...im stumped!

did the engine ever freeze?

id say use talc to try and locate the leak.

it can only be one thing , a leak.
you just need to find it.

failing that get a compression test done.
when you open the expansion tank to put water in is it pressurised?

nobber said:

did the engine ever freeze?

id say use talc to try and locate the leak.

it can only be one thing , a leak.
you just need to find it.

failing that get a compression test done.
when you open the expansion tank to put water in is it pressurised?

Click to expand...

Expansion tank isnt pressurized...and to be honest i cant remember that it has been in the year ive had it...

have you checked heater matrix. common fault and if only small leak doesnt show to much

HOOK said:

have you checked heater matrix. common fault and if only small leak doesnt show to much

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To be honest ive never had anything but trouble with the heater, its never been powerful or warm, just a light breeze...and the passenger footwells often wet but i put this down to rain, condensation etc...i'm gonna have to rip the bugger out i think.

not the best time of year to try this but if you bypass it and see if it cures your leak.new matrix not silly money.if footwell damp then that could be it