 | Home > Tdi > Where has my coolant gone? |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3346   
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Hi guys,
Following on from my hot and cold Tdi thread..... I was doing a quick check around under the bonnet tonight and found that my coolant bottle had a dribble left in it 
Everywhere is closed and I don't have any coolant to top it up. As a short term fix to get me to work tomorrow and then back via Halfords what is best? 1. Southern Waters Best Kentish Tap Water 2. Boiled the above 3. Some carrefour screen wash from 3 years ago which may be the wrong type Long term, I can't figure out where the water has gone as there are no leaks on the outside of the vehicle, which ether means its the heater matrix maybe? Or its worst case scenario its the head gasket
Its not making clouds of white smoke or making any bubbles through the coolant tank, the oil is nice and clean. Where has it gone? Immediately my problem is how to get to work so what can I top it up with? Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197 Self confessed mileage hunter  |
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4th Aug 2015 9:14pm |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3346
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She is going in for her very heavy service next week, would a garage be able to diagnose without taking the head off? Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197 Self confessed mileage hunter |
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4th Aug 2015 9:37pm |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558 
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Just water wont hurt , then buy a bit of antifreeze to top up when needed next , the amount you would need to add after adding a header tank of plain water would be about half a cup full of anti freeze concentrate
dont waste your money buying ready mixed coolant , jusy buy 2 litres of anti freeze concentrate put it in a 5litre container and top up with water , that will give you the about right mix needed for uk weather plenty of tests can be done at garage pressurise system to check for external leak , or if it starts missing or white smoke ( steam ) poss headgasket chemical test on coolant if exhaust gases getting in coolant when running |
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4th Aug 2015 9:40pm |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3346
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Thanks Guys
I have topped up with some of Kents best for now- tomorrow I have a 50mile round trip to work and back so will check at lunch time to see what is left. Will then grab some antifreeze (I'm guessing unmixed coolant is same stuff?) on the way home. She has been running warm still so I'm wandering now if she has been getting too hot and boiling off out of the filler cap which has dropped the temperature. I think a few tests would be a good idea, will give the techs at Harwoods something to scratch there heads over anyway! No white smoke, no visible leaks, but coolant loss. Engine running slightly hot, no misfiring, starts and stops fine, oil is clean and no bubbling or gurgling from header tank. Its an odd one  Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197
Self confessed mileage hunter |
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4th Aug 2015 10:07pm |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558
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Something silly like weak cap
unmixed coolant = antifreeze concentrate ( it will say anti freeze concentrate on the container ) what colour is your coolant now ? |
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4th Aug 2015 10:11pm |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3346
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I'll get one on order and give it a go!
I think my coolant is a sort of yellow-green colour. Hard to tell  Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197
Self confessed mileage hunter |
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4th Aug 2015 10:21pm |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558
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Basic rule is only red with red
green and blue can be mixed personally I would change to red, its more modern ( i know modern is not always the best! ), better for mixed metal engines, easier to find leaks, longer life something like this eBay Item No. 271084331150 You would need to flush out old coolant then replace with red |
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4th Aug 2015 10:34pm |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3346
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I thought 200Tdi's cant use OAT technology because they have silicone parts? Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197
Self confessed mileage hunter |
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4th Aug 2015 10:56pm |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558
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Never heard that or anything slicone
Used red for years now |
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4th Aug 2015 11:03pm |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558
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This is the one ive used for years
eBay Item No. 330813222326 Except i buy it 200 litre at a time ! never known a problem with it ( think they got the price bit wrong for 1litre ) |
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4th Aug 2015 11:08pm |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3346
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Heh, you learn something every day.
Thanks for the recommendation Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197
Self confessed mileage hunter |
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4th Aug 2015 11:21pm |
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| g-mack Member Since: 07 Jan 2014 Location: northumberland Posts: 1967
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i wouldn't use oat! lots about it being bad for older engines! td5 and later is for oat My 109 thread
my youtube channel |
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4th Aug 2015 11:40pm |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558
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A lot of that talk is on clasic cars with course cast iron heads and blocks
and quite often when you would change anti freeze it was the old style blue antifreeze that caused problem , ive seen water pump leak within 2 mins with fresh blue antifreeze and it all boils down to the fact if you got a leak you got leak anyway ! |
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4th Aug 2015 11:59pm |
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| Browny90 Member Since: 20 Jul 2015 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 183 
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Have you had any work done on the coolant system (before the hot & cold thread)?
Was it bled properly? if not, there could have been air trapped somewhere near the temp sensor, which as it moved around was giving you the hot and cold issue? and maybe now the void has corrected itself and dropped the coolant from the header tank? If theres no leaks (or smoke) then its the only thing I can think of, unless someone is stealing it  My 1986 90 is currently on a full rebuild, with new chassis, Paint etc.. Very much a hybrid, TD5 Chassis, tub & bulkhead with a 200TDI and LT77 GB Painted in Stornoway Grey  2 years off the road, but getting close to completion now |
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5th Aug 2015 8:39am |
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