Losing water and smoking 172

[mikeyjj]

Good afternoon all,

Was driving home on Monday and my stop light come on and temp guage shot up. I pulled over and noticed that the coolant tank was more or less empty. Ok so I filled the coolant tank up and it took about 3 litres as it was filling and then emoptying itself, there are no signs of leakage on the drive way etc. I have just kept filling it up with water (1ltr every morning) but yesterday the radiator started to smoke when I got home. I've taken it to a local garage and they say radiator etc looks fine and were a bit baffled, (mechanics in Suffolk!)

Could it be the water pump? I know they are renound for going on the 172?

Thanks
Mikey

 

[Budgie]

Weird.

Checked the oil cap for mayo-like gunk?

Any loss in performance?

 

[john.med]

Sounds like head gasket to me, fingers crossed it's not.

 

[mikeyjj]

Hey Budgie,

Very small loss in performance but I have noticed that its just not running as smoothly (exhaust is a bit jumpy)

 

[Budgie]

Take off the oil cap and check underneath. If there's an mayonaisey liquid on the cap, it sounds like headgasket.

Not too common on 172's though..

 

[davo172]

172's run pure coolant mate not water mix

 

[stu-172]

All cars run a mix of coolant and water. Just the coolant you buy from Renault is already mixed. In reality your paying renault for 50% water! I'd drain the oil out and check for signs of contamination with water. But it sounds very like the head gasket has gone!

 

[caister]

Doubt its head-gasket. Check radiator for leaks and all hoses. Mine dumbed all its coolant a few weeks back as the bottom rad hose come off

 

[stu-172]

I had a pin hole in the radiator before and it used about 1litre of water a day! So could possibly be this. I couldn't find the leak anywhere as the water was burnt off. Worth a try, but if the garage have looked at the car and say there's no leak?