WHERE IS MY WATER GOING!!

Post by **seniorwarden** » 16 Apr 2008, 20:50

HELP!!Slightly worried,my T25 1.7 diesel has a mysterious water leak.Every 4 days I am filling the expansion tank up(probably doing approx. 120 miles)There are no visible leaks anywhere and she is running fine at the moment.Wondered if it could be the headgasket??Anyone got any thoughts.Answers on a postcard PLEASE.........

Post by **R0B** » 16 Apr 2008, 20:54

theres a good chance the engine gremlins are brewing up with it.....

Post by **kevtherev** » 16 Apr 2008, 21:02

try

Standing it on a dry surface let it run for half an hour...and then move it.

don't suspect the worst first ...there's miles of pipes under there

Post by **Mocki** » 16 Apr 2008, 21:03

run it up to temp, and then zimmer round the back rapidly, and have a look see under the engine, chances are it is either dripping on to hot zorst, and evaporating, or its being pushed out of the header tank, into the top up tank when hot, but not being sucked back as it cools, maybe cause the expansion tank cap is faulty, or the pipe tween that and the top up tank is leaky, and not holding vac pressure needed to draw the water back when cooling......... or the engine gremlins are brewing up with it...

Post by **seniorwarden** » 16 Apr 2008, 21:18

Thanks to everyone for your rapid responses(especially Rob with his helpful information!!)I hope its not the gremlins at work

I still use the van as an everyday workhorse for my gardening business,it carries mowers,strimmers,chainsaws,etc.etc and tows a 10'x5' trailer behined it with the tractor mower on!!I have a Diahatsu hijet diesel that I run as well and last month I threw £1100 at it to rectify a headgasket problem

Gaskets alone cost £400 so i've had a big enough kicking this year already.Will put the van on a customers block paved drive tomorrow and run it up.I will let you know the outcome asap.Regards Nev
PS Is anyone else still running 25's as a business vehicle??

Post by **Mocki** » 16 Apr 2008, 21:29

im running mine as everything, its my only vehicle , toolbox, bedroom, tow vehicle, dining room, cargo hauler, kitchen......

Post by **seniorwarden** » 05 May 2008, 19:43

Hi,quick follow up to water loss problem.Still filling header tank and no visible loss anywhere

oil is still ok but when I undid the oil filler cap it is puffing out smoke/vapour??dosent have much of a smell so could it be steam??if it was I thought the oil would be going milky.Any ideas before the robbers at the garage get it and start stripping it down

Post by **Rozzo** » 05 May 2008, 20:45

you boys will put water where water dunt belong

Post by **sln123** » 13 May 2008, 15:09

I have got the same problem with my bus (2.1l petrol). I did the suggested test and ran the bus for about 40 mins but there was no leaking from the cap on the main or top up tanks or from the rubber pipe which goes between them. Also, there was no evidence of the water level in either tank going down. Mine only seems to reduce when the vehicle is being driven and then only from the secondary tank behind the number plate flap.
This never causes a problem when using the van as I alway keep it topped up but I am keen to sort it. Does anyone else have any other tests that I can do other than bleeding the system which I have already done. Thanks Steve

Post by **toomanytoys** » 13 May 2008, 15:55

You have to go round every part of the system to see if there is "green fur" at a joint.. (assuming you have any antifreeze in there!!) there are many joints so it takes a while..
one thats not east to spot is the heater valve leaks.. this is right up behind the fan (on most) and a pig to get at...

Post by **mal0r** » 14 May 2008, 12:32

Sin123, I had the same problem with my 1.9 watercooled whereby it seemed to dissappear into nowhere from the tank behind the flap.

First, there was no visible leak, but the header tank looked a bit manky and melted by previous owner. I replaced the header tank with a proper new one.

The pressure must have gone back to how it was supposed to be because after I ran it up to temp, I got a proper leak hole blown in the metal water pipe under the crank pulley.

After having that fixed (nightmare finding a replacement pipe!), all seems ok.

I reckon you might be falling foul of a dodgy header tank or heeader tank pressure cap.

Post by **SplendiferousII** » 15 May 2008, 10:09

I will be spending this weekend putting the head back on my van. I have a spare 1.6D head here which is good but would need taking off the engine. I think that will fit. I am not too far away from you in Gloucester and have a huge dry and warm workshop with all of the gear you could ever need. You welcome to come and join me and I can help or advise where needed. You'll need to pre order a few bits. Or alternatlively stick the whole 1.6 lump in your van. It's a cracking engine but the valve guide seals are gone & I have nicked the oil pump thinking about it. Probably easiest just to do the head gasket eh!

Post by **sln123** » 19 May 2008, 07:44

Think I managed to sort mine this weekend by going to the pub. The drive there is about 15 mins so by the time we got there the bus was up to temperature and full pressure. Noticed water leaking from under the front as we were walking accross the pub car park. I had a look under the bus and the leak was coming from behind the front cross member where one of the plastic pipes joints the rubber pipe. Got home & tightened the jubilee clip but it was still leaking so I put another one on in front of it which seems to have cured the problem.
Just need to top it up with some anti-freeze now as constantly topping it up with water means that there is not much coolant in the system.

Post by **Pootle** » 20 May 2008, 13:33

Mine has done this for years.

Every week or so the level in the expansion tank behind the number plate drops to nothing. So I fill it up.

I've checked the actual header tank and it seems fine so I don't worry too much. The engine doesn't overheat and it pulls strongly.