Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: tomh23 on 04 January 2013, 23:11:46

Title: Coolant loss ?
Post by: tomh23 on 04 January 2013, 23:11:46
Doing some check's on the Omega today and on checking the coolant bootle was very low ( no warning on MID which i find strange as its picking up washer low) anyways topped her up and decided to have a look on here as ive had no luck with cars and coolant loss lol.  Found the HBV post on here as didnt even know that existed so thought great ill go check that and hopefully job done................nope thats all fine and dry  :'( Ive ran with A/C on, heater on full and low to try make it leak but nothing as dry as anything.  There are no signs of any leaks on the under tray.

So im at a loss, the car doesnt overheat, the heaters are hot, the floor is dry, there is no gunk on cap and coolant doesnt show any signs of oil, oil looks fine. 

How are the 2.2dti for Head gasgets and is there anything else I can check.

I pull a car transporter trailer and have not checked the water for a while could towing cause water loss over time ?

Thanks :)
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: Entwood on 04 January 2013, 23:17:27
Check the neck of the bottle for tiny cracks, and the seal in the cap for perishing, as either can cause vapour loss under pressure, this is similar to the water "evaporating" and will show a slow loss of fluid.

If it is a faster loss it is possible, sometimes, to hear a hiss from the cap area when the system is up to full temperature and pressure.
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: tomh23 on 04 January 2013, 23:36:25
Thank mate, no hissing @ temp but will double check in daylight.
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 04 January 2013, 23:38:42
When was the last time you checked it/topped up?  :)
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: tomh23 on 04 January 2013, 23:41:06
Last time was November time lol
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 04 January 2013, 23:50:50
big miles in that time???
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: tomh23 on 04 January 2013, 23:54:28
Not really, ive towed a few cars / shells and other than my usual work and back. 

Im topped up now and have to take a Caravan down to Northampton next weekend for the Father in law so will be a good test.
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 05 January 2013, 00:01:14
then i'd follow entwoods advice mate  :y
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: martin42 on 05 January 2013, 06:45:49
This is the reason you must check levels every week and never rely on sensors to tell you,takes less than 2mins,compared to expensive garage bills,which can be prevented,my car is checked every week even if it hasnt been driven,and always before a long drive.
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: omegod on 05 January 2013, 08:31:07
Have a look at the rad drain screw bottom right as you face the car, mine was weeping and I could see it after parking up after a run. Also I had a hairline crack in the plastic on the top left of the rad which would evaporate as it leaked through, bugger to find but fixed/bodged with a blob of araldite
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: Andy B on 05 January 2013, 20:52:42
.... and on checking the coolant bottle was very low ( no warning on MID which i find strange as its picking up washer low) anyways  ...

how would there be a connection between the two?  ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: feeutfo on 05 January 2013, 21:22:04
.... and on checking the coolant bottle was very low ( no warning on MID which i find strange as its picking up washer low) anyways  ...

how would there be a connection between the two?  ??? ??? ???
coolant bottle sensor failed?
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: biggriffin on 05 January 2013, 23:16:24
.... and on checking the coolant bottle was very low ( no warning on MID which i find strange as its picking up washer low) anyways  ...

how would there be a connection between the two?  ??? ??? ???
coolant bottle sensor failed?[
bought one last month 90500223 £40.00inc vat on TC.
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: feeutfo on 06 January 2013, 03:38:45
.... and on checking the coolant bottle was very low ( no warning on MID which i find strange as its picking up washer low) anyways  ...

how would there be a connection between the two?  ??? ??? ???
coolant bottle sensor failed?[
bought one last month 90500223 £40.00inc vat on TC.

it gets very low before the fault shows. And hbv , one of the failure modes is to only leak with ac on.

I know nothing about the Dti, but on the v's any coolest leak is after evident around the bell housing, or there a cracked rad of course.

As with most hot water leaks, including house hold central heating, the liquid often evaporates off before the leak is found, up to a point of course. So your looking for chalky pink residue, if you have red coolant for instance.
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: omega3000 on 06 January 2013, 09:33:28
When mine leaked it would only do so over night , found to be the connections on the rad itself plus the drain screw was loose  :y
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: tomh23 on 06 January 2013, 21:19:00
Thanks for all the replys guys, Ill spend sometime on tueday with all suggested, really hoping its an easy fix

AndyB it was more a case of alerts not showing on MID so was just saying it's alerting ok :)
Title: Re: Coolant loss ?
Post by: Andy H on 06 January 2013, 21:40:38
.... and on checking the coolant bottle was very low ( no warning on MID which i find strange as its picking up washer low) anyways  ...

how would there be a connection between the two?  ??? ??? ???
coolant bottle sensor failed?[
bought one last month 90500223 £40.00inc vat on TC.

it gets very low before the fault shows. And hbv , one of the failure modes is to only leak with ac on.

I know nothing about the Dti, but on the v's any coolest leak is after evident around the bell housing, or there a cracked rad of course.

As with most hot water leaks, including house hold central heating, the liquid often evaporates off before the leak is found, up to a point of course. So your looking for chalky pink residue, if you have red coolant for instance.
Hot antifreeze has a very distinctive smell, if you have a good nose you will know about a problem before the level drops significantly (another good reason for keeping the antifreeze up to spec).

Still important to actually check the level periodically though.