Water loss

OK this may sound daft but.....
all through the summer the coolant level remained constant but now the weather has turned inclement and I have the heater on the level drops alarmingly (almost draining the refill bottle) and I have taken to carrying a anti-freeze mix to keep it topped up
So where 's it all going? the carpets under the heater are dry ,no leaks obvious, no oil in water or water in oil no pool of water beneath the car ( although today it would be ice) could it be that the water is evaporating off the matrix? and condensing on the inside of the windows, I had to scrape the ice off the inside today but then again snowy boots etc = damp rubber mats
Also if the heater is turned off is the water routed another way that by-passes the matrix? this would explain why the coolant was ok all summer
or maybe the matrix only leaks when its hot via a pinhole leak

Confused

Hi, I was having a similar problem. Over the summer I was noticing a minimal loss though that was always constant and now into the cold snap it just decided to wee itself all over the driveway.

In my instance it turned out to be the hose under the air filter was rubbing against the steering joints ahead of the bulkhead. I was able to look (from coolant bottle side) down behind the air box and just see the drip. Look down there and loosen the coolant bottle top as mine got worse then (I assume the little vacuum in the system was lost by loosening the top).

Managed to fix temp tonight by cutting and inserting a bit if copper pipe inline.

Hope you get sorted.


I'd add that when the loss was minimal it was not showing under the car. It seemed to lay in the sump tray nd evaporate.
Paul.

Thanks for the reply Willinot any help is allways welcome.
Here is todays instalment .. went to town today /back home round the block up hill down dale .
Then back to town and back home 70 odd miles in total,heater on full chat to demist /defrost the inside of the windows.
Hasnt used a drop
ARRRGGGHH....still confused

Air lock in the heater matrix cleared itself?
If it's heating ok now and still not losing any more fluid - watch and hope it stays as-is.

Mine was doing the same earlier this year, I cleared an air lock and it's been fine since.

Thanks guys,
out today and all seems ok touch wood!
And here's a good cheap tip if you suffer from sopping wet windows from condensation
Get yourself down to the pound shop and grab some small de-humidifiers stick one in each door pocket nice dry mats and clear windows.
just the job if you have a wet dog problem too!

I thought this was something to do with all the **** taking thats been going on but maybe not.lol.

Your cooling water always flows around the heater matrix. When the heater is turned on the air flow is directed over the matrix, when it is tuned off the air flow is directed away from the matrix.

Still OK

Similar problem here.
Summer or winter it looses water and I can't see where. No water in the oil.
In the summer drove to Cornwall (towing). Stayed over half way (200 miles) and hadn't lost a drop. Drove the remaining 200 miles and the level had dropped slightly.
Spent two weeks touring Cornwall and no further loss.
Half way home (another overnight stop) and still no further loss.
Got home....and the level was nearing minimum in the water header.

It can go weeks with no or little loss, then on the next check has dropped again.
Nothing dramatic...but worrying.
Never seen even a drip of water anywhere.