water loss

[wizard]

hi all ...well Im 3 weeks into this car now and so far Ive done a full service -oil and all filters .Ive fitted new belts Timeing and auxcillary ,new water pump and solid pulley + tensioner and idler pulleys + new thermostat and header cap .had a sniff test on her because of water loss and liquid stayed blue ...but Im still useing water...it appears to be comeing out the cap ...but cant be sure ...is there another way the system could pressurise with the head gasket still intact Im not getting any water in oil or vise versa. this is really doing my nut ..oh i have used K-seal just in case but still the same problem HHHHHEEEEELLP!!!! please

[grasmere59]

It might sound daft but have you tried a new cap? Or really tighten it down hard as my BMW used to lose water but when i really screwed the cap down it stopped.

[Busman]

It might sound daft but have you tried a new cap? Or really tighten it down hard as my BMW used to lose water but when i really screwed the cap down it stopped.

Yes, thats exaxctly what happened to me, ''borrowed'' a expansion cap from the local scrappy as a test, which sorted the problem totaly. Worth a try.

[Gary406]

if the d9 caps are the same as the d8 caps i have a spare. i know 100% it doesnt leak

its off my 1998 d8 1.9 diesel ...

[wizard]

hi all I have replaced the cap with a new one .i also back flushed the rad when i did the rest and tested the fan .Im gonna take her for a nother sniff test this week ..but I may try and sorce a new/good 2nd hand header tank .please keep ideas comeing as this is a real b----er.thanks to all

[wizard]

Hi ...re continued water loss ...Im starting to think the sniff test I had done was not correct ..even though the liquid stayed blue . Im loseing water under pressure all the time I ve just tried to rebleed the system and has im filling it its turning into shaveing foam and pouring back out . if i fill it when its cold it forces its way back out after a bout 20 mile .
ive checked in the haynes manual and recon i can do the head gsket .but it says about removeing front cross members and god knows what else ..has any one done one on here and can give me any tips ..Im starting to think this is not gonna be my year.

[Welly]

Check the coolant hoses with the engine hot (be careful) if they feel like they are fit to burst then the system is pressurising (head gasket).

Are you sure you are not over-filling the expansion bottle? they are difficult to gauge where the fill line is in fact no-one really knows. I once put too much water in and it just spat it out through the cap so I left the level a bit lower after that and it was fine.

This is the level I used to keep, about half way up the 'cup' thing inside:


Head gasket failure is not common on here but there has been a few and it seems to start with mega pressures in the system blowing caps/hoses. It seems that poorly maintained cooling systems are to blame with poor water quality and low water levels leading to erosion of the HG.

[wizard]

hi ya welly thanks for the reply ...I have checked the levels and if i leave it for a few days i get the low warning light and stop light come up ..even with k-seal in ...just cant understand why there is no other evidence of gasket trouble ..ie oil/water mix or white smoke ..im allmost at the point where i just bite the bullet and go for the gasket or scrap her

[Welly]

I dunno mate, are you sure the radiator isn't leaking and/or blocked?

The radiators can be full of tiny holes rather than one obvious one so the rad becomes porous and hard to spot the leak (evaporates quickly) although normally the radiator will be a bit stinky of anti-freeze. Other leaks are possible at the heater matrix but very rare (and you'd get a steamy interior).

Would be worth fixing surely? after all the other bits you've done.

[wizard]

Ive checked all the bits youve mentioned mate .i took the rad out and flushed it through then used compressed air to check for leaks .
I only notice water aroun header tank cap and thats new as well .along with new stat .I bleed it through with fresh 50/50 coolant mix .
I really dont want to dump her (shes got a yrs mot as well) so looks like im gonna have to do the head gasket .
just need a couple of days good weather and some one cheap local to do head check when off wish me luck.

[Welly]

I'm fairly sure you can replace the gasket without getting the head skimmed, especially if the engine has not overheated. I'm sure someone did that on here and it was fine - try searching for similar topics/posts?

[wizard]

Ive had a good look around the forum cant find any actuall write ups about doing the actuall job ...theres a couple of mentions but no real details ...but Ill keep searching ..gonna be a few days before I can get on with it any way .

[Welly]

This is a good one........viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3814&p=36500&hilit= ... rew#p36433

[Gary406]

have you checked around the thermostat housing ?
i dunno if the hdi is same as my xud but the thermostat has an actual seal on it. mine once was leaking here. it took me ages to find it because there was no coolant trace since engine was hot and evaporating the water..

worth a try . if not allready checked here

[wizard]

hi ya gary ...yeah re-placed thermostat ..new unit and rubber seal ... bled system .I used an adapted bottle to raise the filler neck as well so as not to allow any trapped air ... think im stuffed