Coolant Leak

[trickydickySRI]

Hi Guys

Hope you can help me... I have an 05 1.9CDti 120 BHP SRI and just had the timing belt, pulleys and water pump replaced (80k service).. (All Vx parts)

The problem I have is the car is loosing coolant somewhere... I have had a look on the ground for teltale puddles, checked the engine bay and all accessible hoses and cant see any leaks, no steam when hot, no dodgy smells, no mayo in the oil.. I thought I could smell coolant through the heater but then that could be my imagination....

Its used about 2 litlres in one week (seems to use more around the houses) and done about 350 miles this week..

I havent been underneath yet but could anyone think of anything?

help!

[davidjameswest]

If it didnt have it before the service i wouldnt bother getting mucky getin under it id just take it straight back to them mate

[trickydickySRI]

I thought that.. The guy who did is a legit mechanic and he did it as a guvvy job (friend of a friend) - I think it was getting low on coolant before the service but cant be sure...

I just hope its not serious - Couldnt afford much more after forking out £230 to get the service done.

[davidjameswest]

just take it back to him mate i would let him see what he says, i do jobs like that and if the prob wasnt there before then thats my fault if i have caused it

[big rich]

i would take it back to him and let him sort it out tbh m8.

[trickydickySRI]

Well after a couple of hours crawling under the car today i finally found what the problem was... the Thermostat is leaking where is joins the head ARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!

Anyone got any advice on this? Should I just get a new gasket? or get a new housing too?

Anyone got any tips on how to drain and refill the coolant system?

Tricky

[glynn]

Well after a couple of hours crawling under the car today i finally found what the problem was... the Thermostat is leaking where is joins the head ARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!

Anyone got any advice on this? Should I just get a new gasket? or get a new housing too?

Anyone got any tips on how to drain and refill the coolant system?

Tricky

on the side of the rad is a drain tap just twist it and pull it forward at the same time

[trickydickySRI]

Well it turns out that the Thermostat wasnt causing the leak...

Whilst slacking the bottom nut off the themostat and scratching my head to
try and work out where the other bracket attached goes i squeezed one of the Coolant pipes and I saw a squit of water on the top of the engine (top cover removed at this point)....

Along the top of the engine is a Aluminium return pipe that comes from the top of the block next to the belt cover along the top of the engine back to the header tank and down the back of the engine to the thermostat....

Where it T's off to go down the back of the engine there was a split in the pipe which was peeing water out.... The reason why I thought it was coming from the thermostat was cos it was running down the back of the engine over the termostat...

I wipped it off and welded the joint and its fixed!!

Done 100 miles'ish and it hasnt lost a drop!

[Tadpole]

Well done m8 always worth a scratch about to locate these things if you can & save some cash ......

[Pecojess]

Sorted, good result m8