gavin.starr Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 How do folks, Im loosing coolant at the moment around 1 litre every week and a half i have to carry water in the car for when i have to top it up. I changed my matrix around 2 years ago for a re furbed one so i dont think its that but im not ruling it out. Im thinking its the rad cap no particular reason i just have a sneeky suspition, i cant seem to find any leaks on any of the pipes, i have been looking for ages and cant find it. Is there any notorious places for cooland pipes leaking that are hidden out of sight i need to take a look at. Gav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Replace the rad cap, they do fail with age Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 27, 2011 Author Share Posted January 27, 2011 I only replaced it around 12 months ago surley they cant die that quickly? Any recomendations as to where to get one from, Its a koyo rad so its got the deeper neck on it so i need a deeper rad cap to suit. Gav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripped_fear Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I wouldn't have thought that it would fail after such a short time, but depending what one you got I suppose its possible. Is it a cheap one or second hand if so just buy a new one, I had the same problem and as heckler has said, and I just bought a nice blitz one or sumopower on ebay and job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
add heywood Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Headgasket? Does the water come out of the expansion bottle? Is there white smoke on start up and tickover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 I had the same problem when i had my engine rebuild, losing lots of coolant, turned out Michel had put the wrong rad cap on mine, a blitz one for a mkiv, turns out the koyo rads need a different cap, deeper like you said, a mk3 one works just fine. Few quid from halfrauds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Rad cap first, as it's the cheapest option. The other places I've found on the supe to leak is the plastic top of the stock radiator cracks with age, and it only leaks when the car is fully warmed up. The other things are the back of the water pump, but this is usually obvious, and finally, I've read threads about NA core plugs falling out. Though again this is doubtful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 I think I have found the problem, it over heated on me the other night, so up comes the bonnet and I could hear a slight hissing noise, turns out I have a small hole in the radiator. Im in preston so would any one know of a rad specialist that could pressure test it for me and weld up the hole if possible Gav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan294 Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Try DW Radiators in Preston, Devonshire Place, off NEw Hall Lane, 01772 705777. I have used them before, years ago, and they were pretty good... if not, i have just bought a new rad for mine from these guys: http://www.carcooling.co.uk was only about £100 or so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Water pump is a common problem. At first they often only leak when the engine's hot and running and the coolant evaporates before being seen as a puddle. Feel if water is coming out of the drain tube hose that should be fitted so it doesn't piddle on the alternator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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