Weird possible water leak

[David Edwards]

Over the last few weeks the water level in the expansion tank has dropped a bit, not suddenly but over a period of days causing the Mk3 alarm to go off, I have been all over the pipes etc but cannot find a leak, even leaving the bongo standing on a huge piece of cardboard, ( in dry weather) lol, for a few days and after use...nothing, it has also been into my local very good bongo boys who have also checked everything from engine pressure thru pipes etc and found nothing. Has anyone else come across this, I suppose I really ought to think about changing the pipes just in case there is a seepage that we are not seeing but it is realy weird and at £70 a set for silicon pipes ( which is daft) I have even checked the caps on the rad and bottle but they are fine, I dont know what else to try.,

[daveblueozzie]

There has been the odd occasion that the leak only occurs when the engine and pipes are hot. due to expansion of the pipes when hot a pinprick hole then starts to weep.

[You've Been Bongod]

david my last bongo did the same and it turned out to be a pin hole in the top hose under the drivers seat and was only noticable when driving
even the rac couldnt find out where it was leaking from until he twisted the pipe with engine running

[mikeonb4c]

david my last bongo did the same and it turned out to be a pin hole in the top hose under the drivers seat and was only noticable when driving
even the rac couldnt find out where it was leaking from until he twisted the pipe with engine running

Excellent info I reckon.

Maybe change the top hose and any other main suspects (mike at Whellquick talks about 'The Big 4' but apart from the top hose I can't remember which they are!).

[stilldesperate]

Hi David,

Any white smoke / running lumpy for a few mins on first start of the day?

SD

[You've Been Bongod]

david my last bongo did the same and it turned out to be a pin hole in the top hose under the drivers seat and was only noticable when driving
even the rac couldnt find out where it was leaking from until he twisted the pipe with engine running

Excellent info I reckon.

Maybe change the top hose and any other main suspects (mike at Whellquick talks about 'The Big 4' but apart from the top hose I can't remember which they are!).

mike its BDC
DBO
DABS
YBB

[mikeonb4c]

david my last bongo did the same and it turned out to be a pin hole in the top hose under the drivers seat and was only noticable when driving
even the rac couldnt find out where it was leaking from until he twisted the pipe with engine running

Excellent info I reckon.

Maybe change the top hose and any other main suspects (mike at Whellquick talks about 'The Big 4' but apart from the top hose I can't remember which they are!).

mike its BDC
DBO
DABS
YBB

You tellin me you all got big hoses that leak if you squeeze them once they've perished with age

[francophile1947]

You tellin me you all got big hoses that leak if you squeeze them once they've perished with age

This has gone seriously off topic Anyone knows they won't be big hoses in this weather

[haydn callow]

Leak detection fluid.......often works. !!

[missfixit70]

If all the hoses are ok, could well be water pump leaking under pressure when engine's running, leaving no trace. As Haydn said, get some uv dye off him & get that in there, should find it in no time.
£70 for a set of hoses? that'd be cheap £70 is for 4 from what I've seen, there are 17 in all - about £300 from Mazda, then you got the metal pipes at £50 a pop & connection pieces, etc.

[David Edwards]

Got the dye in, nothing, so funny, will start on the hoses and see what happens, thanks peeps good suggestions, no lumpy running on engine.

[missfixit70]

Are you looking in the dark with a UV torch? won't really show up in daylight.

[wishmaster]

Hi David, we had a similar problem on our V6, losing a bit of coolant over a period of time but even with Haydn's dye in, couldnt find the leak even after pressure testing. What we had done was flushed the system and 50/50 mix refill and a good bleed. That was about 2/3 weeks ago and its seemed to have done the trick Im hoping the bongo gods are on my side with this one.
Good luck in finding your leak mate, i know how frustrating it is

Iz

[haydn callow]

So....no leak then ?? just a bit of air making it's way out.

[David Edwards]

Hmm worth a try, she is due for a service soon so might as well go for it.