Mystery of coolant?

[Pootle]

Might be a daft question, but why would coolant disappear?

My temp went right up today, so checked it out, and my coolant was non existent!! :S

Checked oil, and there's no frothing, which means the head gasket is ok? and there's no apparent leaking coming from under the car.

Filled the coolant back up to the MAX line, went for a 10 min drive and it's back down to the MIN line, I'm going to check it again to see if it's risen when it's cool. :S

But why would it empty? Could there be issues somewhere or has it just been 'used up'?

 

[16v_jon]

head gasket - check under the oil cap for a mayo like substance

 

[cK]

Split hose?

 

[DrR]

Is it not obvious, head gasket, leaking hose/raditator etc

 

[BrianR]

Lift the carpets and see if the floor is wet, could be the heater matrix has leaked.

 

[davebem]

Also check around the water pump area, they are know to leak.

 

[MARK A]

Get it pressure tested to find the leak! The coolant shouldn't drop as it's a sealed system!

 

[DrR]

Radweld, sorted my little problem.

 

[fUbAr]

sounds like what happened when i had a split hose on the RR at Janspeed.

i filled it up, turned the car over and it was all gone... within seconds.

oh, thats before i had the car running, opened the filler cap and a volcano of boiling hot water came gushing out (much to everyone's amusement)

 

[Martin_172]

sounds like my fucked waterpump!

 

[donsrno1]

It's either leaking from a hose or your head gasket is fucked so you need to check for any leaks. Have a look all around the engine bay and underneath to try and see if there are any leaks, if you can't see any then I would start to worry about the headgakset. Do you get any white smoke coming from your exhaust more so that usual?

 

[Daz]

Join the club Pootle!

My head gasket has had it, but the oil is fine.. right in the corner, the little swine!

 

[Neil G]

Lift the carpets and see if the floor is wet, could be the heater matrix has leaked.

Hope it's not that....bit of a b**tard to fix

 

[G_F]

Fill it, start car, open bonnet and let it idle, you will most likely see/hear where its leaking from.