Losing Coolant

[Linus27]

Hi,

I seem to have a small problem with my phase 2 Clio 172. I seem to be losing coolant. I first started noticing it a few months ago. I was stuck in slow moving traffic and the temp gauge climbed up to the very top. The fan came on ok and once traffic was moving and air flowing through the car again, the temp gauge dropped back to normal. I checked my water in the expansion bottle and it was empty. So I topped it up. I noticed the same thing happened again when I was stuck in traffic and again needed to top it up. I have now had to top up the coolant a couple of times now.

I can’t seem to see any leaks anywhere although I have not looked deeply into it. Another thing I have noticed this week is the temperature when running the air con or heater does not seem to be getting really hot like it used to. Not sure if that’s related at all.

I searched the forum and I see waterpump could be to blame or possibly thermostat. Withe heater not pumping out much heat, could this be thermostat leaking? The temp gauge is sitting in the middle as normal unless I hit traffic.

Any ideas?

Thanks for the help.

 

[MartinR]

thermostat housing

 

[Linus27]

thermostat housing

Hey thanks but I don't think it it is now. Tonight I topped up the coolent and then let the car sit running for about 30 minutes. I kept checking the thermostat housing for leaks and nothing. However, after half an hour I noticed steam coming out from underneath the airbox and under the fan. So I suspect its either the hose at the bottom of the radiator if there is one down there or from the bottom of the radiator. The coolent also started to drop as the steam was pumping out.

any ideas?

 

[Fred@BTM]

rotten rad 95% of the time, leaks out the side or bottom

 

[Linus27]

Thanks Fred will get it booked in for repair.