OK this may well start a debate going.
My 1.8 monitor the water regularly as us 1.8 owners do and have come to the conclusion that short journeys do have an effect on the water level.
If the water drops it is obviously going somewhere but:
Observation 1 - There is no mayo, the oil is new and clean and no oil in the water. No obvious signs of water leaking either.
Observation 2 - When driven on a long journey or regular long journeys there is no loss of water, not a drop.
Observation 3 - When driven on regular short journeys with no long journey say over a week long period and with the engine not getting much above 80 degrees there is a loss of water.
Now, if there was a leak then regardless of hot/cold long or short there would be a constant and regular loss of water
So why is it that short journeys have an effect on the water level against long journeys where the water level remains constant?
Begin.....