Losing coolant on my 182, any suggestions

[Grandpa Munster]

From day one my 182 has been losing coolant. Hoses and engine are covered in a yellow powdery residue. This residue is spattered everywhere and I top up the header tank weekly.

Renault have pressure tested the system without finding any leaks. So they have handed the car back to me, if they cant find the problem they cant fix it. Probably because its not right under their noses. But I still lose coolant.

Does anyone have any ideas where it could be coming from?

Many thanks in advance, Lee.

 

[blaupunkt]

TBH mate if its all over the engine and they can see it, you can see it, then i would take it back and tell them that this is not good enough and suggest they replace all the hoses and bottle etc and just keep on at them untill they sort it out.

 

[jonnyboy]

youve got to be firm with renno, they ALWAYS say that theres no problem with the car at first, if theres sh*te all over your engine bay theres a problem with the car and theyve got to sort it

 

[James 182]

my 1.6 pissed away an entire coolant tank in a month, but nevver found or saw a leak! renault told me it had an air lock... air lock my arse, if i had an air lock then it would have exploded from the thrashing it got!

This next bit is dangerious but does work if its a big leak!!! try at own risk!

Best bet mate is to clean the engine down, top the coolent up and sticky tape grease proof paper / tracing paper ( stuff you shove in the oven at 200 degrees ) to the bonet insulation and do a quick trip round the block with a few hard corners and fast moves to slop it about, then you should be able to see from the residue on the paper roughly where its comming from then inspect closer

I will say it again, this is DANGERIOUS as the paper my catch fire if you let the engine get to hot! and you havent got the right stuff. it must be oven baking paper that will be safe from fire at 200 degrees and youll be fine

Failing this extream method, take it to a dealer that knows whats happening in the real world

 

[tonk_172]

I had a problem with my coolant level and the same dry yellow powder residue it was a gasket on the theromstat housing which needed replacing they did it on warranty its only a simple job.

 

[Grandpa Munster]

They have ordered a hose for me which is on back order, but even the service manager agreed that it more than likely will not solve the problem. He said if I see coolant dripping, then I should get the car to them a.s.a.p.

Perhaps I will let the coolant run dry and blow the engine. They can pay for that then.

 

[Grandpa Munster]

tonk_172 was the residue all over the centre of the engine? Thanks for the suggestion, if correct I owe you a pint.

 

[tonk_172]

It was splattered below where the theromosat is located which is in the centre of the engine bay just below where the airbox hose connects to the throttle body.