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Eddx14xe

posted on 15th Sep 11 at 15:44

It could be your thermostat leaking slightly, that would explain the steam from the engine as the thermostat is next to the exhaust manifold.

To get the bottom hose off you might need to jack it up, ive never taken mine off but i know what you mean about stuff being inacessible.


Billy Dean

posted on 15th Sep 11 at 12:51

I've been keeping an eye on the coolant level etc. for the past few weeks now since I replaced the hose clip.

No more big puddles of leaking coolant/water. So that's an improvement.

But I do still see small patches of coolant/water under the car after a run - about the size of an orange in diameter.
The thing is I can't see where this water is leaking from as it is a slow leak.
The coolant reservoir drops by about 1cm every couple of days it appears.

With the bonnet open the other day I noticed steam (not loads, but enough that was noticeable) coming out from the front of the engine. It looked like it was coming from the mid-front engine area directly behind the radiator.
Now I don't know whether this 'evaporation' of water is causing the coolant to go down every few days or not. It seems plausible doesn't it?
Remember the system is currently 100% water with no antifreeze, so it would be easier to evaporate away I'm thinking.

As the temps are now dropping overnight, I'm now keen to flush the system out with the stat in (easier that way) and replace with 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze.

How on earth do you get the bottom rad hose off? It looks well inaccessible!
Also any thoughts on my 'evaporation' isue? :boggle:

Many thanks for taking the time to read and respond :)


Jed D

posted on 30th Jul 11 at 14:57

should be fine with just water in untill the weather gets cold bud. but even then just do a guesstimate 50/50 water coolant mix, ether drain it were the fan switch is or the bottom hose on the rad is what i'd go for

aslong as when you've renewed it you run it upto a decent temp with the header tank cap off you should be ok. im not sure (may be corrected here) but if you put your blowers on full wack full heat whislt doing this it helps to prevent air locks


Billy Dean

posted on 30th Jul 11 at 12:23

UPDATE: Thanks guys, it looks like it's now fixed!
I got adventurous and went the full hog by buying a set of jubilee clips from Halfords (£2.79) lol
Fitted them on and I have made 3 long journeys that in the past have made the coolant spurt out of the system. But now no leaks whatsoever. And the expansion tank fluid level is now constant. Hmmm maybe the original pinch clip had lost it's tension or had slipped a few mm. I dunno. But it's now fixed.
Now I just need to renew the coolant mix as it currently is 100% water lol

I might start a new thread on this... but I've got a few questions on this for now:
1) I'm only going to flush and renew the coolant for the radiator side of the system, as I understand that for the engine block you need to remove the stat and timing belt covers etc. which is a long job for me.
Out of interest, approximately what % of coolant does the engine block hold? (I know the whole system holds 5.8 litres)
2) I will remove the cooling fan switch to fully drain the rad. Haynes says to renew the washer. Is that necessary?

Many thanks.


alan-g-w

posted on 26th Jul 11 at 17:16

Dont even waver imo mate, just swap the clip for a jubilee


Eddx14xe

posted on 26th Jul 11 at 12:59

Just do as you said. Yes you fill the coolant up in the expansion tank like you would any other time. The bleed it, just leave the cap off the tank and run your engine. Doing this means its not under pressure and the air will be driven out.


Billy Dean

posted on 26th Jul 11 at 12:03

quote:
Originally posted by alan-g-w
If you have the car running when it's up to temp where does it look like the water's coming out if you try to follow it to the source?

With the engine up to full temp I have switched the engine off in the past and looked under the bonnet.
With the engine off, water/coolant squirts out from where the top hose meets the top rad connection.
It looks like the water is squirting out from the very top part of this connection and then trickling down to the ground. But it also looks like the hose is fully on and the clamp is clamped securely. That's why I'm a bit stumped.

With my limited knowledge, I am thinking of tackling it in the following order:
1. Putting the hose and clamps back on, filling up with water again (to test), and running her around to check for any further leaks. With the thinking that maybe water was only leaking initially due to a loose clamp?
2. If that doesn't work: buying a replacement clamp - this time a jubilee one! (£1)
2. If that doesn't work: buying a replacement hose (£17)
4. If that doesn't work - I'm snookered! Local Garage here I come :(


Any ideas or advice much appreciated.

p.s. I lost a fair bit of water when I took the hose off. If I was to fill her up again (this time with water only, just to test for leaks) would I simply have to fill her up thru the expansion tank? Would I also need to air bleed the system though too? And if so, how? Cheers.


Jed D

posted on 26th Jul 11 at 08:23

try using juberlee (spelling) clips instead, aslo as above^^^?


alan-g-w

posted on 26th Jul 11 at 06:06

If you have the car running when it's up to temp where does it look like the water's coming out if you try to follow it to the source?


Billy Dean

posted on 26th Jul 11 at 01:12

UPDATE: I managed to get some time this evening to get my new vise grips around the hose clamps and loosen them off. I removed both clamps and removed the whole hose from the engine bay.
I looked at both ends of the hose and there were no visible signs of deterioration or holes/tears etc.
I also looked at the radiator connection, and again there were no visible signs of deterioration or breaks etc.

Now I am a bit stumped.
Surely, if water was pumping out of this point with the engine on there must be a hole it is coming out from?
Or is it simply because the clamp was not tight enough on the hose at this point??
(it was a bugger to get off so I am assuming it was on tight to begin with!) :boggle:

Or could it be something else??? i.e. like a hole that is not visible to the eye????
I felt around the radiator pipe and I couldn't feel any holes on its underside either.

Any help much appreciated - I am trying my best to solve this myself without going to the local garage.


Billy Dean

posted on 26th Jun 11 at 10:34

quote:
Originally posted by Ian
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_232517_langId_-1_categoryId_165469

Cheers, la! :)

Vise Grips it is then.


Ian

posted on 26th Jun 11 at 04:04

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_232517_langId_-1_categoryId_165469


Billy Dean

posted on 26th Jun 11 at 02:26

Thanks guys.
I will need to buy a set of multi grips or vise grips as you have said to start this job.
I googled the terms and there are loads of items.
I have limited funds so which tool to get and from where? Mole/vise grips, or Multi Grips?
Any decent links?



Any help most appreciated.

[Edited on 26-06-2011 by Billy Dean]


Eddx14xe

posted on 23rd Jun 11 at 14:18

The coolant is under pressure anyway, so if there are holes it will obviously come out. Dont worry about the headgasket yet


Jed D

posted on 23rd Jun 11 at 11:34

if its any help i got a b.new rad for around £25. wasn't a genuine one but does the job.

good luck


Billy Dean

posted on 23rd Jun 11 at 10:50

Many thanks guys for your kind help.
I will try to seek out some larger pliers/molegrips etc. The 'standard' set of pliers I have do not reach around both 'tabs' on the metal hose clip.

I’m actually getting a bit worried because I read somewhere that water spurting out of this place is also a sign of a head gasket failure!
I read that if the HG has cracked pressure builds up and you can get highly pressurised coolant bursting out of the system at points like this!

I suppose if the rad pipe or hose is cracked/perished it will be obvious right?


AlexW

posted on 23rd Jun 11 at 07:28

Your get more than some coolant come out, It will drain half of the system, so get something to catch it all, and then refill with new coolant.


alan-g-w

posted on 23rd Jun 11 at 06:02

Aye vise grips are your tool with those things, just make sure you keep your hands out of tue way because if the things ping out they can just about remove knuckles!


Jed D

posted on 23rd Jun 11 at 01:54

try some big pliers/mole grips and some fluid will come out but not all of it, just remember to top it back up when you fitted it back and then run it upto a reasonable temp with the cap off

:thumbs:


Firefly

posted on 23rd Jun 11 at 01:53

Depending on which clamp you mean. I had the ones with 2 tabs that you squeeze to loosen on my radiator, but i had the ones that are like a clip together cv band on other hoses.

Either way, a few options. Buy a screw type hose clamp. Get a big pair of multi grips and squeeze if its the first type. Or carefully cut it in half with a junior hacksaw like i did.

If its the second type, grab the fastening bit with pliers or multi grips and twist until it comes apart and replace with hose clamp.

It may only need a new clamp or it may need a hose and clamp


Billy Dean

posted on 23rd Jun 11 at 00:53

Car: Corsa B 1.4 16v

I noticed today that water was spurting out of the point where the top coolant hose meets the radiator (basically the hose that attaches to the top-left-hand corner of the rad as u stand in front of the car).

I don't know if the radiator connection at this point has a crack in it, or the hose is torn.
I will have to remove the hose to find out I guess.

I removed the air inlet pipe to get a better view/access.
The hose is held on with one of those old metal self-tensioning clips - the ones u need special 'pliers' to loosen up.
I don't have this tool so any ideas how I can get the clip off?

Also access is difficult. Any tips to make it easier?

And do I have to fully drain the system before removing the hose? (I will do this when engine is cold btw).

(Sorry for all the questions! I am a learner!)

Many thanks.

[Edited on 23-06-2011 by Billy Dean]