Coolant leak issue

[fontaine666]

Originally Posted by SD1too

My thought process was that if the resistor is open circuit causing loss of the slow speed, the temperature would rise to 112 degrees C before the fast speed was triggered. If, for whatever reason, the fan is unable to lower the temperature then the pressure relief valve in the expansion tank cap might open and expel a large amount of coolant.

The test is easy and quick and will answer your question.


Recently a member's car was filled with a very low concentration of antifreeze on the understanding that some work would soon be carried out requiring draining. The best laid plans are susceptible to change and that's what happened. Unfortunately time passed and the overnight temperature dropped below freezing. I think you can guess the rest.
So the answer to your question is: how self-disciplined are you?

Simon

Ok so I checked the fan thing while the anti mist button was on, the fan was certainly running constant and a bit noisey, not sure if its the low fan or the high one to be honest. It wasn't cutting in and out.

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by fontaine666

... not sure if its the low fan or the high one to be honest. It wasn't cutting in and out.

If you started the engine from cold as I recommended then it will be the slow fan speed. The 2 speed systems can be quite loud. At least you've ruled out that possibility.

Simon

[marinabrian]

Looked at the video, it has to be catastrophic hose failure, and in terms of can you fill it with plain water, the answer is yes, you would be a fool to use antifreeze with a leak of that magnitude, not would it be unnecessarily harmful to your wallet, but also the environment and any passing animals.

So before doing anything else, check the top hose, and top hose plastic T piece for integrity, the 1800T has a propensity to split along it's seam on the underside.

As it stands, I suspect you will be able to see plainly where the water is coming from.

Best of luck

Brian

[kaiser]

I have had, or rather my wife has, had a catastrophic failure of the top hose on a 1.8T. The hose could be torn as easily as peeling a banana!

And of course you should just fill with water until you know if the fault has been found! Then drain some and add antifreeze.

Other points where we have lost water on the 1.8T includes the water pump. It would leak while standing but be fine when driving! In neither case did the engine blow its head gasket, but we caught it early!

[fontaine666]

Originally Posted by kaiser

I have had, or rather my wife has, had a catastrophic failure of the top hose on a 1.8T. The hose could be torn as easily as peeling a banana!

And of course you should just fill with water until you know if the fault has been found! Then drain some and add antifreeze.

Other points where we have lost water on the 1.8T includes the water pump. It would leak while standing but be fine when driving! In neither case did the engine blow its head gasket, but we caught it early!

The weird thing is that the water leaking seems to only happen after the car has had a massive overheating hissy fit, or maybe it has the hissy fit because of the leak then i only notice the leak after i've stopped the car and can see it NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD- out underneath. I'm pretty sure i've checked the hoses, the ones at the top of the engine anyhow.....

The car is in the garage again, the same place where the chump couldn't find any issues, maybe i'll get it out of there first thing before he charges me for a broken tail light or something.....

[fontaine666]

Originally Posted by fontaine666

The weird thing is that the water leaking seems to only happen after the car has had a massive overheating hissy fit, or maybe it has the hissy fit because of the leak then i only notice the leak after i've stopped the car and can see it NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD- out underneath. I'm pretty sure i've checked the hoses, the ones at the top of the engine anyhow.....

The car is in the garage again, the same place where the chump couldn't find any issues, maybe i'll get it out of there first thing before he charges me for a broken tail light or something.....

The naughty word was similar to urinating, and rhymes with hissing....