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.

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

mathewst wrote on 29. May 2009 at 12:34:

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 wrote on 01. Jun 2009 at 22:23:


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

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.