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[Mr Carbon]

Wotcha All

My '98 3.0 Elite has developed a very minor (approx 400ml per 1500 miles) engine coolant leak.  I've looked under the bonnet with the engine running at operating temp but can find no evidence of a leak (steam, drips etc).  I also looked at the HBV but that looks fine and the oil filler cap shows no signs of "mayo".

Apart from replacing the HBV about three years ago I've never had the coolant level drop before - the only difference is that over the last few months I've doubled the usage of the car (this also coincides with noticing the drop in coolant).

Any advice would be much appreciated.   

Cheers.

[mathewst]

Check the hose on the front right side of the engine.
I had a small leak there, actually it became a big leak when turning the A/C on

[skippy_22]

hi where is this pipe mate as mine has small leak to

Check the hose on the front right side of the engine.
I had a small leak there, actually it became a big leak when turning the A/C on

[espen22]

Take a god flashlight and look for traces of dried up coolant on hose fittings, in and outlets from engine and under the waterpump if you cant find anything at all, and youre sure that shes not blowing out coolant from the tank due to overheat...It might be an head gasket:(

[Mr Carbon]

Wotcha All.

Still can't find any evidence of an external engine coolant leak.  Are there any obvious symptoms of cylinder head gasket failure other than the coolant level dropping?  I understand that "mayo" in the oil filler cap and oil in the coolant are signs that the head gasket is failing - but I don't have any signs of these on my car.

According to the "H" manual only cylinder head gasket failure and/or cylinder / cylinder head cracking would cause an internal coolant leak.  Is this the case or are there other potential causes?

Looks in the manual like head gasket replacement is a gutsy (expensive) job...

Any advice would be much apreciated.   

Cheers.

[Entwood]

Check the cap on the header tank ... it is supposed to seal and pressurise the system , if it does not then you will lose water by evaporation ... I had that some while back ....new header tank cap solved it for me ..

[cem_devecioglu]

Check the cap on the header tank ... it is supposed to seal and pressurise the system , if it does not then you will lose water by evaporation ... I had that some while back ....new header tank cap solved it for me ..

agreed..

find a silent place
stop the engine (engine must be hot)  and try to hear some noises near the cap (so people think you are nuts )

if there is..budget=budget - cap

[hotel21]

The heater bypass valve is the usual culprit but as Cem says, the cheaper alternate and sometimes cause is the expansion cap.  Get the use of another cap from the scrappies (cheapest option if you have deep pockets....) or the dealer if a bigger wallet.  Its cheaper than a HBV...

[Mr Carbon]

Thanks for your advice guys - I'll try a new expansion tank cap.

I had that sinking feeling that it might have been a head gasket problem - though the engine has never overheated in over 5 years of my ownership of the car.

Hopefully, as per your advice, it's something far more simple! 

Cheers.