hadyn Posted November 27, 2005 Share Posted November 27, 2005 Just checked my levels this morning to find that my rad is full upto the neck with coolant but my expansion tank is below the low mark Any ideas whats happening here? Its never done this before and if it was a leak etc surely the rad would be low? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Posted November 27, 2005 Share Posted November 27, 2005 Snap........just in from checking and I'm the same, wondered when you should check it though? I know on the wifes mazda you check it when warm as the level rises, is the Supra the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 27, 2005 Author Share Posted November 27, 2005 its always been between L and F for me hot or cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 27, 2005 Author Share Posted November 27, 2005 Warmed the car up after a brief run and the level is still the same, just a tiny little bit above the L mark. Can i just top up my expansion tank with any generic red based coolant available from halfrauds etc?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted November 27, 2005 Share Posted November 27, 2005 I'm pretty sure that people say to only use Toyota coolant. I had a probelm with the levels in mine and it turned out to be an airlock. Been fine ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 27, 2005 Author Share Posted November 27, 2005 Just bought some of that 'compatible with any' coolant system top up stuff from halfrauds. It contains ethylene glycol like the 4life stuff, so should be ok to top the tank up with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrickTT Posted November 27, 2005 Share Posted November 27, 2005 if you're loosing coolant from the engine, then it sucks it up out of the coolant bottle so the engine is always full (until the coolant bottle is empty). You might have a slight leak somewhere. I'd keep an eye on it for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 27, 2005 Author Share Posted November 27, 2005 Will do... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tDR Posted November 27, 2005 Share Posted November 27, 2005 Although many people advocate the use of 4Life red only, any ethylene glycol based coolant mixed with 50 - 70% de-mineralised water will be fine. Don't use tap water. Cheers, Brian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 27, 2005 Author Share Posted November 27, 2005 Is this a common issue then people losing a little bit of coolant from the expansion tank in the colder weather etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted November 27, 2005 Share Posted November 27, 2005 i havnt even got an expansion tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 27, 2005 Author Share Posted November 27, 2005 Been thinking. Could this slight loss in the expansion tank be down to having the heaters on full blast due to the cold weather and needing to demist all the time? Ive also been using the air con a lot. Would this extra load on the heating system/water pump cause some of the coolant to evaporate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyb10supra Posted November 27, 2005 Share Posted November 27, 2005 i havnt even got an expansion tank Eh??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 27, 2005 Author Share Posted November 27, 2005 Eh??? Lovatt was telling me today that he ran for nearly two years without an expansion tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 28, 2005 Author Share Posted November 28, 2005 Found this rather interesting snippet from the service manual: http://mkiv.com/manual/manualtt/cooling_system/cs2.jpg "The coolant in the reservoir tank returns to the radiator when the coolant temp drops thus keeping the radiator full at all times and avoids needless coolant loss" Looks like the very cold weather we're having may have caused this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 28, 2005 Author Share Posted November 28, 2005 feedback on the above post would be most appreciated... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyefi Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 you shouldn't loose any noticable volume of coolant at any time, hot or cold weather. a little loss over time is normal. if left unservised the expansion tank will eventually empty. coolant flows to and from the expansion tank, running without one just means that you will loose coolant and have to top up at the rad to replace it. coolant leaks are usually easy to spot due to the crusty deposits left at the leak point, that is of course if you can see the leak point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 Just checked it this morning, and the expansion tank has gone down a 1/4 approx from the F mark where I filled it yesterday afternoon. The tank settles to about half fullish doesnt it? Where should I look for leaks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian R Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Just checked it this morning, and the expansion tank has gone down a 1/4 approx from the F mark where I filled it yesterday afternoon. Where should I look for leaks? Normally found in fields around Wales Seriously though check around the top off the filler cap is the overflow pipe wet on the end ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 Overflow pipe isnt wet really,nothing around the filler cap apart from some residue where i've spilled coolant previously... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Had the same thing a few months ago, found it was leaking across a crack along the plastic top of the rad. Couldn't for the life of me find the leak at first because the crack wasn't visuable to start with as it only opened up under pressure, just kept finding sticky coolant residue by the lights etc... Eventually after a very long hard run the crack became visible, so new rad it was. Quite a common place for them to go I've been told as the plastic becomes brittle over time. Just a thought, how old is your rad cap? It could be releasing and evaporating leaving no sign of a leak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 I presume it has the original 12 year old rad cap on would it lose that much so quickly thru evaporation tho? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 I presume it has the original 12 year old rad cap on would it lose that much so quickly thru evaporation tho? Oh yes! Had a rad cap go on mine and I lost 1/2 the expansion tank from Stourbidge to CW's which is only a 30 min journey. I would try replacing the rad cap first. CW keeps them in stock or Mr T will order you one in. I've got an old but good condition one your can borrow if you get stuck or want to test if it is the rad cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 Oh yes! Had a rad cap go on mine and I lost 1/2 the expansion tank from Stourbidge to CW's which is only a 30 min journey. I would try replacing the rad cap first. CW keeps them in stock or Mr T will order you one in. I've got an old but good condition one your can borrow if you get stuck or want to test if it is the rad cap. Thats great mate thank you.I've ordered one from Mr T and should have it this afternoon. If they mess me around can I borrow your old one? PM me your mob number so I can call you mate Found some whiteish residue on the airbox, but this wipes off easy with no stain so Im presuming its just salt crap off the roads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 No problem mate PM sent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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