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YOUR RESEARCHWater Level ?
Reported or suspected cause
from the coolant tank
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Reported cause
For some time before I did this pressure test I did catch a whiff of anti-freeze and this proved to be from the coolant tank.
Leading evidence: 'from the coolant tank' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'from the coolant tank' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check possible coolant leak points' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suspected cause
If present this has condensed from probably a cap leak.
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Suggestion
You need to get the car in the air and give it a thorough inspection checking all the possible coolant leak points for a leak.
Test like i described above though raised the pressure
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Suggestion
A pressure test like I described above though raised the pressure on the hot tank to the point that it let go with a gush of hot coolant to the ground.
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Test like i described above though raised the pressure
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Suggestion
A pressure test like I described above though raised the pressure on the hot tank to the point that it let go with a gush of hot coolant to the ground.
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Right guys... i have a 2003 c4s. car runs fine and gets to temp normal and smells fine..
but the other day i noticed that the levels on the water bottle in the engine bay was well below the min mark. so I topped up just about 300ml
about two days later i checked again and it was below the min again.
I re topped up slightly over the max line.
all still ok but even when the car has been stood an hour or so i released the expansion top and the water was sill very hot and well under pressure.
so my question is... Is this Normal ?
i havent seen any leaks anywhere and the oil is fine.
Any advise accepted
An hour cool off time is not much. These cars stay warm for a while. Plus, it's summer time.
Make sure you oil is OK. Don't want intermix. Make sure your coolant cap is new and updated and tigh-tight. How's that waterpump looking? Ever been replaced? Hope you are topping up with at least distilled water.
It's not normal unless you have not checked for a while. A long while. It is going somewhere. After tracing coolant leaks on various cars for the last year I would recommend stopping at a parts store and getting a pressure tester. I got mine at harbor freight for cheap.
Start with this and the cap.
Depending on your mileage, you could have a cracked expansion tank.
Coolant would drip onto hot engine/exhaust components and evaporate almost immediately. You're left with unexplained loss of coolant ....
Compression test will be a good next step as pointed out by the post before this. My Porsche dealer did one for me for free!
I had small leak from oil cooler o-rings - but if you're dropping 300ml in a few days - more likely cracked tank (is it yellowing ?) or water pump ( my pump started leaking and I first noticed that after hard drive when coolant had dropped below min - filled it up- quick run - and then saw drip at bottom of pump) . Went with pierburg pump from pelican and new thermostat - DIY - is not as easy as they make it look on some of the YouTube videos - but possible with some fiddling !
You need to get the car in the air and give it a thorough inspection checking all the possible coolant leak points for a leak.
You can do a pressure test of sorts yourself. With the A/C off drive the car around town until the engine and its oil and coolant are up to operating temperature and have been some time. Budget roughly a half an hour of driving.
You want to drive long enough you hear/feel the radiator fans come on.
Back at home raise the RPMs to say 1200 to 1500. Hold at this point until you or a helper hear the radiator fans come on.
Shut off the engine.
Wait.
The heat load of the engine will raise the coolant temperature and pressure. Since everything is hot the rubber hoses, O-rings, water pump seals, coolant tank and cap are all very pliable.
If there is a leak at one of these places you'll know.
The tank can lose a considerable amount of fluid from a leaking cap. You'll not see any water unless you make a foil tent and put it over the cap. Check it ever few minutes as the engine cools off for any water vapor. If present this has condensed from probably a cap leak. It could possibly come from a leak elsewhere too.
I've had a cap leak on my Boxster, a tank fail and a water pump get noisy. I never smelled anti-freeze when the cap was leaking or when the pump got noisy.
For some time before I did this pressure test I did catch a whiff of anti-freeze and this proved to be from the coolant tank. It had split but would only open up some after I shut off the hot engine. A pressure test like I described above though raised the pressure on the hot tank to the point that it let go with a gush of hot coolant to the ground.
Believe it or not, but after I let the car sit overnight I filled up the tank with water and drove the car a couple of miles to the dealer to get the tank replaced and the cooling system drained and refilled with fresh coolant. The tank, even though it split and gushed coolant when hot, was water tight again on the drive to the dealer.
With my Turbo the water pump leaked. I first suspected something when I got out of the car when the got quite hot (but was not overheated, just thoroughly warmed up) from driving on a hot day though a large parking lot. When I opened the driver's side door, I caught a whiff of anti-freeze. As soon as I could I drove the car over the dealer and tech lifted the car and spotted a large deposit of dried anti-freeze residue between the pump pulley and the housing. The pump was leaking coolant.
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