Missing coolant

[adey205]

Hey there people
I have a strange and mysterious case of coolant fluid going missing on a regular basis.
No sign of leakage anywhere, no oil in the fluid when I top up, no sign of water in the oil, etc etc.
Any ideas gratefully received

Adey

[wonkanoby]

might be water pump

they have 2 holes one on side one bottom were they weap

[mikeonb4c]

might be water pump

they have 2 holes one on side one bottom were they weap

True, and the leak can be out of sight and may evaporate before you can spot any sign. One technique you could try is putting u/v dye in the coolant and buying a cheap u/v torch to see if any suspect areas start to glow in u/v light.

Pinhole leaks in hoses are another that might also be spotted by u/v dye techniques.

How much coolant are you losing?

[adey205]

Seems to be roughly a litre per journey to work and back, so approximately 35 miles ?

[Gasy]

That's a lot to loose in 35 miles
You should be able to spot that
Check under neath for leaks with engine ruining and hot ( handbrake on and in park pls )
Don't ever run your water header tank dry for risk of air locks
Got a low coolant alarm .?

[windywatson]

Is your van a diesel or petrol? I had a leak on my water pump on my V6 & its not easy to see leaks on the water pump because its buried amongst so much other stuff, covers etc. So as suggested could be a water pump leak.

Cheers

[mikeonb4c]

Seems to be roughly a litre per journey to work and back, so approximately 35 miles ?

As Gasy has said, that's a lot to be losing without signs of wetness (more than a pinhole leak I'd have thought, possibly water pump but falling to ground / blowing away in the wind but I'm not familiar with that).

[helen&tony]

Hi
Mike
In answer to your "Donovan", here's some "Dylan"...(in answer to your blowing in the wind):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWwgrjjIMXA
Actually, I can't stand Dylan...but there you go....
Cheers
Helen

[mikeonb4c]

Hi
Mike
In answer to your "Donovan", here's some "Dylan"...(in answer to your blowing in the wind):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWwgrjjIMXA
Actually, I can't stand Dylan...but there you go....
Cheers
Helen

He's written some good stuff though, and inspired some great song writers and performers.

Dear old Donovan struck me as a Dylan pass-off, certainly when he started out ('Look everybody, Britain's got one just like him'). Tangerine Eyes was just Mr Tambourine Man with a stupid lyric! I wonder if he got taken to court by Dylan's lawyers.

[helen&tony]

Hi Mike...
Yes, I thought Donovan was an imitation...but EVERYBODY said they were "inspired" by Dylan...if they didn't , then they weren't "in with the in crowd"...I just think he's an arrogant twerp!
Cheers
Helen

[mikeonb4c]

Hi Mike...
Yes, I thought Donovan was an imitation...but EVERYBODY said they were "inspired" by Dylan...if they didn't , then they weren't "in with the in crowd"...I just think he's an arrogant twerp!
Cheers
Helen

I might have said that about Cat Stevens or Jimmy Cliff, but Donovan?...................

[adey205]

Getting back to the OP. It's a 2.5td. Will do the standing test tomorrow. I'm hoping it's not worst case.......,......

[mikeonb4c]

Hi
Mike
In answer to your "Donovan", here's some "Dylan"...(in answer to your blowing in the wind):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWwgrjjIMXA
Actually, I can't stand Dylan...but there you go....
Cheers
Helen

Dear moderators. Since the bit of humour in my post and that Helen has referred to has been removed, you might want to remove this and the other off topic posts in order that future readers aren't left confused. Thanks.

[helen&tony]

Hi
A pressure test is the way to check if you have an invisible leak, and if it doesn't hold pressure, you need to locate the faulty hose. If it's the waterpump, you need to check with the engine off, and you'll often find traces of a drip when cold. You'll need a VERY bright torch to find the pump leak, and a mirror helps to look underneath the pump. Heater matrices are sometimes suspect , and you may find wet carpets at the front or a drip behind the drivers seat...don't use the aircon , as that will drip anyway. The seams on the radiator are also suspect...

Mike...the Donovan reference was on another thread ...
Cheers
Helen

[mikeonb4c]

Mike...the Donovan reference was on another thread ...
Cheers
Helen

Yea right