Water Loss - but not Head !

Tricky one. 2001 2.5 V6 is using or losing water, but only under certain conditions. Concern was the head, but have just doen 300 motorway miles and no water used at all. When working or in traffic it half empties the header bottle on a short trip (10 miles).

Any ideas before I send back under used warrantee??

Thanks

If you remove the big plastic acoustic cover off the top of the engine, and have a look into the V of the engine, there may be coolant in there. The plastic thermostat housing on the LHS of the V (battery side) is a known item to fail by splitting the housing. You could check all the oils to see if they've got coolant in them.

It should use the orange/red oats long life coolant. If it does, this stuff is fluorescent when it dries so you may find a leak on one of the connection joints. If it's under warranty, then let them fix it. The coolant goes through the engine, radiator, IRD cooling, heater matrix and auto oil cooler.

edit: add heater matrix.


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Thanks for this, there is some orange staining in the 'V' and around the thermostat but hard to see where it is coming from. It looks a major job to get to the thermostat - any shortcuts anyone?? Thanks Andrew

andyfreelandy said:

Thanks for this, there is some orange staining in the 'V' and around the thermostat but hard to see where it is coming from. It looks a major job to get to the thermostat - any shortcuts anyone?? Thanks Andrew

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you have a warranty, get it sorted through that. if you start messing about with it and it goes tits up your warranty will be invalidated because you have messed with it. don't touch it, don't even lift the bonnet. get the warranty company to sort it. they get paid for it ya know:doh:

Agree with the above. Get them to sort it sooner rather than later. That way you'll have a longer period afterwards, when it's still under warranty, if you have further problems.

could be a frost plug.Googled frost plug replacement to give you a better idea what and where it is .First result was youtube [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsZNZovrDzQ"]YouTube - Frost plug replacement[/nomedia] something down the side there might explain what to look out for.

Sorted !
Thanks for the replies, did some self diagnosis and could see coolant stains near thermostat housing. Took back under warrantee and asked for old part. Plastic case cracked where it fits into head (by 'O' ring). Have photos of old one if useful. So glad it was not the head gasket or worse !