Hello, I am a bit stumped as to how I am loosing coolant. I top up the filler tank by number plate and within a few miles the tank is empty. The temp gauge is fine and I also checked the main tank in engine compartment which seems fine also (no loss) There does not seem to be any visible leak from anywhere.
Furthermore I have topped up with just water and no coolant. I know I should not do this, but as yet do not know the reccomended coolant to use as I have a 1.6td and didn't know if the coolant was different from petrol engines.
Any ideas on loss/coolant brand?
Also, is the method for draining/refilling system the same as petrol engine?
Cheers
Loosing coolant but no leak? 1.6td
Moderators: User administrators, Moderators
-
Louey
- Registered user
- Posts: 5265
- Joined: 30 Sep 2005, 14:24
- 80-90 Mem No: 1108
- Location: South side nr J3 M42, Birmingham
is your oil level rising when the coolant top up tank gets empty? - if so then the water is escaping into your oil systems, sometimes can be a knackered oil cooler.
Are you checking the water level when cool?
Is the front bleed nipple thingy tightened on??? no leaks at the front or under the van???
or even, was there enough liquid put into the coolant system in the first place, I think it holds something like 17 litres. Might be best to start from scratch and that way you can cross off a checklist as you go along.
Are you checking the water level when cool?
Is the front bleed nipple thingy tightened on??? no leaks at the front or under the van???
or even, was there enough liquid put into the coolant system in the first place, I think it holds something like 17 litres. Might be best to start from scratch and that way you can cross off a checklist as you go along.
Louey
▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄█▓▒░ Camping is in my blood! ▒▓█▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀
▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄█▓▒░ Camping is in my blood! ▒▓█▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀
-
Mocki
- Membership Admin
- Posts: 17257
- Joined: 29 Sep 2005, 09:27
- 80-90 Mem No: 428
- Location: Mansfield Notts
- Contact:
any old coolant will do for a derv, just whatever you can lay your hands on...... it only needs to be special for the WBX
the bleeding of the coolant system is the same as the petrol, although some say you dont need to raise the front because the coolant in engine sits higher .........
as long as the water is staying to the very top of the header tank you needent worry too much, the top up tank has a vent in the top of it and will blow off if too full, and the level will be lower when cold than when hot if the header tank cap is working correctly..........
park it on a dry surface over night and look for damp patches in the morning, some of the joins in the pipes might be weeping, but you wont see them when they are hot as it evaps....
the bleeding of the coolant system is the same as the petrol, although some say you dont need to raise the front because the coolant in engine sits higher .........
as long as the water is staying to the very top of the header tank you needent worry too much, the top up tank has a vent in the top of it and will blow off if too full, and the level will be lower when cold than when hot if the header tank cap is working correctly..........
park it on a dry surface over night and look for damp patches in the morning, some of the joins in the pipes might be weeping, but you wont see them when they are hot as it evaps....
Steve
tel / txt O7947-137911
________________
1989 2.1LpgWBX HiTop Leisuredrive Camper
1988 2.1 Auto Caravelle TS TinTop Camper
tel / txt O7947-137911
________________
1989 2.1LpgWBX HiTop Leisuredrive Camper
1988 2.1 Auto Caravelle TS TinTop Camper
-
banana
- Registered user
- Posts: 23
- Joined: 24 Oct 2005, 11:22
- 80-90 Mem No: 2517
- Location: bedfordshire 80-90 membership no.2517
As the owner of a 1.6TD I have had numerous different leaks.
1. The simple leaks usually show on the ground as Mocki says, but then you have to find the source.
2. The subtle ones only leak when hot and seal up when cold but you can find them (after a run and without burning yourself) by touching every pipe joint ie where a jubillee clip is situated and see if you finger is wet. There are at least 10 places to inspect for this kind of hose leak, Ive solved these by tightening every clip. If your hose is perished then renew hoses. Take spares on holiday if you think one looking suspect.
3. If your expansion tank cap is dodgy you may see a calcified trail and water around the engine bottle. However heat drys it after a stop. If, as has happened to me, the sensor on the bottle has lost its seal ( thats the big hexagonal black plastic nut) you get a fine spray when the engine is hot shooting up to the padding of the engine cover and this acts like a sponge. It doesnt show on the ground... So if it feels wet you know its a hot running pressure leak. Renew the sensor and it should seal up unless there is damage to the bottle thread.
4. When Your engine has over 100,000 miles on it the head gasket is more likely to fail and water is blown into the cylinders and air is blown into water system. This results in overheating and the red light flashing etc. Air forced into the system displaces the water and when you stop often the vaccum pulls all the overflow tank water back upto the main bottle. I had this all last summer and its not funny.
5. The radiator can leak or possibly the two big pipes running out and down under the van back to the engine. Normally you see the leak on the ground though.
6. The heater system could have a leak. I dont know what this looks like when it happens.
I check mine carefully every two weeks and every day I am fortunate that my drive way shows the problems quickly. Its not so simple when you are on holiday on a camp site on the grass.
1. The simple leaks usually show on the ground as Mocki says, but then you have to find the source.
2. The subtle ones only leak when hot and seal up when cold but you can find them (after a run and without burning yourself) by touching every pipe joint ie where a jubillee clip is situated and see if you finger is wet. There are at least 10 places to inspect for this kind of hose leak, Ive solved these by tightening every clip. If your hose is perished then renew hoses. Take spares on holiday if you think one looking suspect.
3. If your expansion tank cap is dodgy you may see a calcified trail and water around the engine bottle. However heat drys it after a stop. If, as has happened to me, the sensor on the bottle has lost its seal ( thats the big hexagonal black plastic nut) you get a fine spray when the engine is hot shooting up to the padding of the engine cover and this acts like a sponge. It doesnt show on the ground... So if it feels wet you know its a hot running pressure leak. Renew the sensor and it should seal up unless there is damage to the bottle thread.
4. When Your engine has over 100,000 miles on it the head gasket is more likely to fail and water is blown into the cylinders and air is blown into water system. This results in overheating and the red light flashing etc. Air forced into the system displaces the water and when you stop often the vaccum pulls all the overflow tank water back upto the main bottle. I had this all last summer and its not funny.
5. The radiator can leak or possibly the two big pipes running out and down under the van back to the engine. Normally you see the leak on the ground though.
6. The heater system could have a leak. I dont know what this looks like when it happens.
I check mine carefully every two weeks and every day I am fortunate that my drive way shows the problems quickly. Its not so simple when you are on holiday on a camp site on the grass.
Im not the first and I wont be the last
-
banana
- Registered user
- Posts: 23
- Joined: 24 Oct 2005, 11:22
- 80-90 Mem No: 2517
- Location: bedfordshire 80-90 membership no.2517
Buy one from justkampers.co.uk and the new one will normally seal up Ok . Dont over tighten it and you can compress all the plastic too much but use your judgement and test after as youve just done. You can get unlucky and get a faulty one.
One issue ive had is that in taking off the terminals it can sometimes upset the electrics a bit and the sensor will play up because the terminal blocks are not dry. dry them rough them up with emery a bit and seat them down really well.
One issue ive had is that in taking off the terminals it can sometimes upset the electrics a bit and the sensor will play up because the terminal blocks are not dry. dry them rough them up with emery a bit and seat them down really well.
Im not the first and I wont be the last