Water still disappearing although everything replaced!

[facepainter]

Please can someone help? I have followed all advice so far, and Tink is purring. BUT the water leak has been ongoing since just after I bought her.....I have done everything.....had pipe underneath fixed, had new water pump, new radiator, new sensors, new cap on engine water tank, new hose from aux tank to engine tank........all to no avail, once one leak was fixed, another would spring up! I've got her booked in next week at John Austin's in Colchester......I've asked him to think laterally, out the box and off the planet.......no one seems to know why the camper is still losing water.....average 40 mins driving and the sensor light goes on and the engine tank is really low. It doesn't seem to suck water from the aux tank anymore. Has anyone heard of this kind of problem???? I've had new oil pump, fuel pump, handbrake cable, brakes, but the water is baffling everyone!
Thank you for this forum. Piles of smiles and Miles of driving fun. Dobby xxx

[facepainter]

Oooooh sorry, usually the end of my message explains what vehicle I have. Sorry. It's a T25 Wesrfalia Atlantic. 1990. Lovelovelove xxx

[clift_d]

If you can't see where the water is exiting and it's just disappearing then it might be an idea to get a sniff test done so you can rule out the head gasket.

[facepainter]

Hi. Thank you. I don't know what a sniff test is, but M&C Diesels in Colchester did some sort of tests and ruled out head gasket. They are baffled. Xxx

[itchyfeet]

if you have a leak then when it cools it draws air in rather than coolant back from the top up tank, path of least resistance.

there are probably over a hundred pipe joins, one or more will be leaking, you just don't know which.

I have seen leaks only when hot and leaks only when cold.

white deposits show where leaks are

old cardboard boxes under the van show where leaks are

I have even seen pipe clips totally loose (not done up by me) but the van still drives ok just leaks at random times.

crawl under hot and cold with a torch.

I assume it's a waterboxer engine otherwise known as water leakers, common problem.

[facepainter]

Ah!!! I'll put cardboard down....but it has a big drip tray under the engine. But I'll see the rest of the length eh? Thank you. It's a 1600 original with the build. Is it a water boxer? Xxx

[itchyfeet]

1600 will be diesel

[facepainter]

Yup! Diesel. Forgot to mention, I've had a new fuel tank too! It poured out in a petrol station....not advised...they weren't happy.
It really is getting to the point of no return.....I can't drive far 'cos of the water issue. It hasn't overheated though! Just the red light, I used to then fill the tank behind the number plate, but things have changed, the tank behind the number plate stays mostly full, and the engine tank empties.......today at the garage, a big black pipe coming from the engine tank flattened!!!!! I said that it looked like a vacuum, and perhaps a blockage? But was too lad no, the pipe probably is old.......I cried with frustration. (I'm an old bird, it happens) so I've asked yet another garage to order the pipe and try that! I am seriously out of money......but I love Tink, and can't wait to just drive!!!!! Left hand drive too. Xxxxxxxxx

[Smiffo]

Is the heater matrix leaking?

[Oldiebut goodie]

Fat black pipe flattened says to me that the darlek cap isn't functioning correctly - it is letting water out but not drawing it back in when cooling. That coupled with tank staying full behind number plate leads me along those thoughts. Or maybe the small hose to it from the darlek cap has collapsed internally.
I would certainly investigate there to see if that is the problem.
Where was the new one bought from?

[facepainter]

Heater matrix.......darlek cap.......how fab!!! I'll ask about that. Darlek cap....Is that the one that looks like a darlek? I have a new one of those. And a new little tube leading to the tank behind the number plate.
Heater matrix.....can't imagine what or where that is. I have an Eberspracher heater ...any good?? Xxxxxx Thank you for things I can ask the mystified mechanics to look at!! Xxxxx

[Oldiebut goodie]

Where was the new cap purchased? There are a lot of dodgy ones around.

[facepainter]

Ah, with my Tink, I rely on the bona fide garage to buy these things...saving a couple of pounds isn't any good if you don't know what you're doing...the cap is blue....is that good?? Xxxxx

[facepainter]

Just looked up heater matrix!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think any one has thought of that!!!!! It must be heated by the water?????????? Is it? How exciting!!! Blast, I won't sleep now, I'll be phoning the garages (I have three on the go with different specialities...oil, diesel etc....but all interested in getting to the bottom of this water wonderland!!! ). Thank you!!! Xxxxxxx

[Oldiebut goodie]

Brickwerks is the best place to buy from. Here is their blurb on identification:

"These are made by Blau for VW. We also have the OEM Blau cap, which has the same internals - see related items

If your cap doesn't say "BLAU" on it, or isn't a Genuine VW one... put it in the bin where it belongs.
Even if it looks the same, its not. We refuse to sell the substandard ones, in fact we put them in the bin when they're supplied with tanks (some retailers take them off and sell them separately!)"