Coolant leak (here we go again!)

[Claws]

Hi all

when I picked her up from the MOT, the mechanic mentioned some staining, possibly from the header tank. Something I should be aware of, anyhow I popped the bonnet, and sure enough there was some spray visible, and the level was low, I put that down to driving on the hottest day of the year so far?

just had another look and am a bit concerned!

In one of the photos you can just about make out the moisture in the top left corner of the rad, and the bit of sponge is wet. You will also notice the coolant has sprayed as far back as the body mount for the suspension. There is a lot of staining around the bleed screw, and under the small hose right next to it, also under the header tank cap! 

There is no staining however around the outer ridge of the header tank, which makes me think the moisture on the rad is just leakage from around the top of the header tank rather than the rad itself?

any thoughts please? Anyone that can Zoom in will see better

regards Steve

[Claws]

folks no ideas, as to how  / where the coolant could be coming from? 

[david moore]

looking at the pictures, ? you can see a plastic screw cap which sits on the top that has white corrosion all round the top edge. (on the expansion bottle) this may be the problem ?! but not sure... would have to be checked when up to pressure. first I would clean it all round the edge and see if the white corrosion starts to come back as it may have a leak.?  its something that you can try ? ? ?

[JOE-DOT-COM]

Hi

I'd give a quick wipe down and run it up to temp

the watch it, you should be able to see where its coming from

expansion tanks are known to leak from the seam, also can leak from the bleed screw if the o-ring is on its way and the little pipe left side is known to go brittle, crack and snap off

radiators usually rot at the bottom first, due to all the wet and crap that hits it

cheers

Joe

[Lazlo Woodbine]

I would suspect something on the expansion tank. I would say the cap itself but the neck has that wall around it to funnel excess over the back.

Cleaning it all off is certainly a good start.

I have procured a spare cap before (for another car) and fitted a tyre valve in it to pressure test the system. Just a thought.

[The Voices]

As others have mentioned:

Possible failed 'o' ring on the bleed screw, failed pressure cap and the plastic 'spigot' pipe next to the bleed screw is also notorious for cracking around the bottom edge ?

The coolant on the radiator and sponge looks like it has come from the leak on the expansion tank, also worth looking at the underside of your bonnet for staining to see whether the coolant is coming out under pressure when hot and then dripping back onto the engine ?

[Claws]

thanks chaps

as always wise words of advice.

bearing in mind the possibility of it either being just being the 'O' ring, and / or  also a brittle 'Spigot' (thanks Jon) pipe, also remembering the tank is now 14 years old I'm of a mind to change the whole Header tank? is this something that can be done at the 'road side' so to speak? I know the leak isn't that bad, but it really would be just my luck for it to 'Pop' while taking it to a garage.

I'm guessing £200 - £250 supply & Fit?

[Lazlo Woodbine]

If it is the tank Berkshire Jaguar have Meyle ones for £50. I don't know how much the antifreeze would be but it shouldn't take more than an hour to fit and do a complete coolant change. New coolant in alloy engines is a good thing to do fairly often anyway.

[Claws]

many thanks Laz

i'll have look

regards

Steve

[The Voices]

Correct 'pink' coolant is available from Eurocarparts ready mixed in the correct 50/50 ratio.

Usually about £10 for 5 litres when they have a voucher offer running (which is most of the time !)

I think the total cooling system capacity is 8 litres but can't promise !

Shouldn't lose all the coolant though if just swapping the header tank.

[Russ68]

Hey Steve, 

I had to change the expansion tank on my X200 as it had cracked, but mine was situated up by the bulkhead and was a bugger to get out. Access looks much easier on yours, so for £50 I'd be tempted to get a new one. 

As Jon says, you'll only need a litre or so of coolant for the nominal loss from the header tank. Or if you have a decent mix already, you could top it up with water. If she's been losing fluid though, your antifreeze will probably be quite diluted, as mine was. I bought 5L from the autofactors, but used it on the other cars as well.

Cheers, Russ

[Gordsty]

Hi all, I've got a 07 2.7d diesel. Coolant is disappearing whilst the car has been standing. Help please

[Ian Hardwick]

Hi I have the same issue now, did you ever find out what it was??

 

[Richard D Gorscak]

I bought a 1967 Jaguar XKE rated by inspectors to be in excellent (not mint) condition.  No one drove the car far.  Two separate mechanics who worked on it filled the radiator (I guess in through the expansion tank).  The first firm was a reputable antique restorer, but 100 miles away where I bought the car.  If the car idles for an hour there is no problem, but if I drive car on highway (60+ mph) for over 20 miles and then put car in garage, a lot of antifreeze comes out onto the garage floor (a flood).  The car engine thermostat does not show the car being hot and it runs well.  I had the thermostat tested for temperature using infrared heat sensor and they agree.  There is still some antifreeze in the expansion tank and my last mechanic wonders if that is just the right amount.  How much antifreeze should be in the expansion tank.  The user manual says to the lip of the cap, but that means it would be full.  How can it be an expansion tank if already filled?

[stopper]

Good Morning

twenty years ago I had a XK   series three v12[best car I have ever had!] at one stage when I had driven 20 to 30 miles, when I stopped it would release about a litre of coolant [not every time] my mechanic checked every thing -radiator, hoses and exspansion tank even changed the radiator, still did it!  One day after a fifty mile journey it blew a hose of and lost all coolant. RAC man fixed hose back on and never had any more trouble   Mechanic and myself are still baffled as to cause!