Coolant Loss

murrays2

Hi,

I checked the car a number of days ago and the coolant level was at the level it should be.

I had another check at lunchtime and the coolant level was nearly empty. There is no sign of a leak or anything.

No mayo under the oil cap. Car isn't overheating. I filled it back up at lunchtime and took it for a 30 minute drive. Still at the same level.

Where could it have went to? I suppose all I can really do is to check it every day or so, and if needs topping up take it to a mechanic for diagnostics.

There is definitely oil residue in the coolant tank. I'm thinking the head gasket may have cracked.

thanks

Ebe_Scrooge

Head gasket is one possibility - though you'd normally start to see mayo in the oil cap, as you say. Check the hoses - you'll often see a white powdery deposit around a leaking hose.

Bottom line, the coolant is leaking somewhere. Maybe not fast enough to be obvious, maybe internally. But yes, keep an eye on it, and get a mechanic to take a look when you can.

foxy-stoat

If its a petrol you can buy yourself a compression tester. That should show up if one or more cylinders have a pressure drop. Open your coolant filler cap (cold engine) and run the car upto temperature, see if there are any bubbles.

Check floor carpet, your heater matrix could be leaking.
Check every hose, the smallest holes will be difficult to fine but coolant can still empty over time.

Also what car is it? any common faults?

I had a 20 year old MR2 turbo that had a coolant leak, finally traced it to a 1p tiny rubber ring that went into the bleed screw.

murrays2

Its the sudden drop in coolant level that has me puzzled.

Filled it back up it is at the max level. Why not the sudden drop again if there was a leak somewhere or a split hose?

Thanks for your comments. Its a Corsa 2009.

Goudy

Is it a diesel?
If so, these have an oil heat exchanger under the oil filter housing that pumps coolant around pipes filled with engine oil and they are prone to splitting and leaking.

murrays2

It is a petrol. Drove it again for 30 mins no leak and still at the same level.

I am utterly baffled.

Norman_Castle

Could it be an air pocket that has moved to the coolant tank?

EssexExile

If it happens repeatedly, you have a problem. If it doesn't, you haven't.

nickcc

Check your engine oil level, if it's risen then that's where the coolants gone. Head gasket could have blown across one of the oil/waterways. Also make sure that the engine isn't overheating or the electric fan isn't working.

murrays2

Oil level is fine. Footwells are dry etc. No bubbles in the coolant.

Engine temperature is fine and it definitely isn't overheating.

I am now checking after every journey. It is bordering on the obsessive. :rotfl: