raymowatt@ntlworld.com

Active Member

• Sep 15, 2010

• #1

Hi all
I have read lots of threads about coolent loss, in fact I hardly slept thinking about the cost of cylinder heads... my question is this, my td5 loses coolent very slowly over weeks, cant find were abouts, but expansion tank drops halfway over a month or so.
having read a thread about lifting tank and filling, bleeding etc and also changing the cap, will this stop the lost or will the increase in pressure (system bled and new cap ) bring on quicker the head failiure.

I hope this makes sense.

ps should hoses be solid or spongy after a run

 

S

Snowey

Active Member

• Sep 15, 2010

• #2

Get it pressure tested.

You can get the pressure test kits on e bay for about £60. I nearly bought one but someone did me a favour and pressure tested mine for me.

These kits use the expansion tank to pressureise from and you simply take the pressure up to 1 bar and wait to see if it drops.

If it does then look for where the water's coming out.

Favourites on the D2

Fuel cooler - easy repair

hoses (those bloody spring clips)

Radiator

Thermostat

radiator top hose

and of course cylinder head gasket

 

B

bluesticky1

New Member

• Sep 17, 2010

• #3

Radweld is a cheap fix for the rad. Worth a try if you're still stuck.

 

thebiglad

Well-Known Member

• Sep 17, 2010

• #4

raymowatt@ntlworld.com said:

Hi all
I have read lots of threads about coolent loss, in fact I hardly slept thinking about the cost of cylinder heads... my question is this, my td5 loses coolent very slowly over weeks, cant find were abouts, but expansion tank drops halfway over a month or so.
having read a thread about lifting tank and filling, bleeding etc and also changing the cap, will this stop the lost or will the increase in pressure (system bled and new cap ) bring on quicker the head failiure.

I hope this makes sense.

ps should hoses be solid or spongy after a run

Click to expand...

Hi Ray, this is what I would do in your position:

1. Bleed the cooling system by removing the bleed screw and raising up the header tank until coolant flows from the hole, then replace the screw before lowering the tank, top-up as neccesary.

2. The hoses on a healthy car will firm up on a hot engine but not be solid, but don't worry about that as one man's solid is another man's soft.

3. Go to a garage that has a sniffer and get the header tank checked for exhaust gases, also the exhaust pipe.

4. Take the engine cover off and check for leaks.

After you have done those, then you'll have a better idea where to go next.

Does your heater work properly all the time and put out a good amount of heat?

Cheers
DAVE

 

Jason2

Well-Known Member

• Sep 17, 2010

• #5

bluesticky1 said:

Radweld is a cheap fix for the rad. Worth a try if you're still stuck.

Click to expand...

Yeh if you were stuck in the middle of a desert otherwise it's a botch that's gunna block other things up like your heater matrix :doh:

 

S

spanishlair

New Member

• Sep 17, 2010

• #6

Jason2 said:

Yeh if you were stuck in the middle of a desert otherwise it's a botch that's gunna block other things up like your heater matrix :doh:

Click to expand...

Or stick a egg white in ! Told to me by an old soldier who had been stuck in the desert !!

 

The Mad Hat Man

Well-Known Member

LZIR Despatch Agent

• Sep 17, 2010

• #7

NOT the WHOLE egg!:rolleyes

 

raymowatt@ntlworld.com

Active Member

• Sep 17, 2010

• #8

Hi
thanks for your time replying, I run the heater tonite, and It was red hot, very toasty.
I will bleed the system as you described on sunday, I had the top cover off last weekend, with a torch, still saw no leaks.

This all started last november on a wet day, I found the heater was cold, I then found the header tank was empty, on filling it up , the heater run as normal, and I have monited the level ever since, I have never bled it though, just topped up every so often. But still cant find the loss !.

Cant find any helpfull garage yet to do a water test, thinking of buying one ebay £28.

Good Forum this, it really can help

 

S

spanishlair

New Member

• Sep 17, 2010

• #9

Even if your stuck in the desert with half the Africa Corps up you arse.. Remember the egg thing... F""k the heater matrix, about as important as "What oil should I use " at that moment. Got another trick about fan belts. Gran says to "Get him going" she had to take her stocking off to replace a busted fan belt. Seemed to happen a lot. Must have been a Britpart !