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[amba]

Coming home today had that faint to strong smell of antifreeze coming from engine bay.Checked level and had drop about 1 inch on bottle.Unable to see any drips,no damp areas on footwells in car so matrix looks ok and no staining on screen.
Does this sound like the dreaded HBV on its last legs as assume liquid would burn off leaving that horride smell.

[Dazzler]

Could well be the HBV if you cant see any other leaks.
Have a feel around the back or use a torch as you can just see the HBV with the scuttle still in place

[amba]

Dazzler..cant see any leaks but will have a closer look later,it just only seem to get real strong smell with climate on so imagine that hbv is opening to let flow through then causing the leak.Am I right in thinking that with climate off the water just flows in and out valve without much restiction.
By the way was in Sutton today ( Rose Hill )

[cem_devecioglu]

yep HBV..

mine is 97 had leak from HBV, oil cooler area and matrix..90 K miles..

and seen leakage from thermostat area..

[amba]

Can,t see it is oil cooler as coolant is perfect pink with no traces at all.Could be stat or stat body but think for price of HBV will go down that route first as also looks to be the easiest job.Just hope VX have one in stock tomorrow for work on saturday(weather permitting)

[cem_devecioglu]

there are some colorful additives for coolant to see..

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Coming home today had that faint to strong smell of antifreeze coming from engine bay.Checked level and had drop about 1 inch on bottle.Unable to see any drips,no damp areas on footwells in car so matrix looks ok and no staining on screen.
Does this sound like the dreaded HBV on its last legs as assume liquid would burn off leaving that horride smell.

Yes sounds like the HBV.  When mine went recently it cascaded a lot of water over the back of the engine, but for some days before all I could see was a slight fall in the water header tank and the smell of coolant.

Have fun changing it.  It is a right bugger being very fiddly and awkward, but if you perservere it is done within the hour!

[amba]

Well got a new genuine VX hbv today so weather permitting saturday will venture down the back of scuttle.
Strange thing is the header tank has only dropped about 1 inch but the smell of antifreeze is really strong in the cabin and is a nasty smell to drive around with.No traces of coolant on carpet or near heater matrix so really hope it is the hbv.
Would the smell be that strong just from a leak under bonnet as can,t see any evidence of water dripping .

[Andy B]

It could be. Also depends on what position the valve is in - ie what the heating is set to. Mine didn't leak withthe air con off.

It'll only take you an hour or so to fit it.