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[terry paget]

2008 Astra H 1.6 petrol manual hatchback
This car is losing coolant. Coolant header tank level falls, and coolant appears on the RH radiator lower mount and on the cable and  lower hose. I presume the radiator is leaking somewhere and needs replacing, but I cannot see exactly where it is leaking. It won't do it idling in my garage over the pit. I don't think it is the hose, though I have changed that hose - water pump output going to header tank and radiator bottom.

Car is KM08 UZT first registered 22 04 2008, I presume covered by Haynes 2004 to 2008, rather than Haynes  Dec 2009 to 2013. I mention it as the earlier radiators come out from below whereas the later come out from above.

Plenty of radiators on e-bay, some at £29.

Please advise.

[Doctor Gollum]

Pressure test it

Or run it until the fans kick in, then rev it to a fast idle. Either way leak should become evident.

May be a weaping hose connection rather than the radiator. Rads tend to fail on the thermostat side as it's hotter... ime

[Nick W]

Get a decent small torch and an inspection mirror, add some bright dye and have an organised look for the leak.


If you're feeling flush, one THESE is useful

[terry paget]

Thanks for advice. You were right Doc, radiator hose connection weeping.
I got engine hot, got under it and was rewarded with a drip commencing as I watched, from above the alternator. I tightened the jubilee clip on the hose on the water pump output, this made the drip worse. Then I twigged - I had fitted a new 35-60mm jubilee clip on a 48mm pipe. The nut part of the clip is rigid, so was the wrong radius. I changed both jubilee clips for 35-50 clips, now all is well. I have driven 118 miles since then, and coolant level is constant.