Using water!

I only use my S3 at weekends and I cover about 50/60 miles max. It seems I need to top up the radiator every weekend, although it doesn't leak and the needle on the gauge never rises. Is there anything I should be looking for?

This is my first venture into series ownership so any advice will be much appreciated.

Its gotta be going somewhere.......Have you got white exhaust smoke when up to temperature?

Just to check......Are you filling direct into radiator and do you realise the correct level is about 1/2'' above the rad vanes? (Any more will get blown into the expansion bottle)

Check your oil dipstick before you start the engine. There may be a milky residue on it which would indicate water in your oil and head gasket failure.Also check your oil filler cap, same rule applies.

I'm "topping up" direct into the top of the rad, but I must have put about 1 1/2 litres in this morning.

As crash says....check the oil

Presume you have checked all hoses for leaks once its warmed up.May not leak until under pressure.

also check the radiator, it could be holed.

I'll have a good check about. It doesn't drop water when stationary, but I'll check the oil.

Thanks again guys.

check the rad ....try putting some cardboard under the landy and see if you can see any leaks ....

I have done that anyway Benny to see where it drops oil! No water at all any only the occasional oil drip when parked on a slope. it's bone dry when parked on the flat. Possible sump gasket but nothing more. I'll sort that when I do an oil change.

300AJC said:

I have done that anyway Benny to see where it drops oil! No water at all any only the occasional oil drip when parked on a slope. it's bone dry when parked on the flat. Possible sump gasket but nothing more. I'll sort that when I do an oil change.

Click to expand...

Is there any oil in it?

Mmm, got me thinking now Blue! I tell you what, if I check the oil I might kill two birds with one stone!

top her up and run her till she's hot then look for leaks. I had a Pajero that split a rad seam and only spotted it on a cold morning topping up screen wash. it only showed up once hot and the system was under pressure. bone dry when cold, rad just mysteriously short of water.
worth a shot


(nobody say the words "head gasket")

Thanks again Luke. I'll get it parked on the flat and inspect...

Just a thought and this may just be too simple but I had a similar problem on mine and after much head scratching and failure to find any problems I realised that there was no seal in the radiator cap(doh!!!!), so every time she got warm water was escaping through there.

Hello Oz. I bought a brand new cap when I got the truck. The seal had perished on the old (original one?)..... which I found out when driving home after I'd bought it!

I think the water may be steaming out via the radiator cap. I have noticed that the underside of the bonnet, above the rad, gets wet and it sounds and looks to be steaming through the rad cap when I take a look. The rad cap is new, I changed it when I bought the truck and is the right one (9psi). The temperature gauge never rises above "cold" however when I drive it. I only use it for short journeys so maybe it never really gets "up to temperature".

I don't mind topping her up with water when I run her at weekends but any clues?

Thanks

Is there a split in the hose to the expansion tank?

Not that I can see Oxides. That was a quick response. Are you a bit bored after Christmas as well?!!