MisterCruiser
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 28, 2014
- Messages
- 506
- Country Flag
Alright folks, said I'd start a new thread, update based on this thread from back in June. I'm looking further into the leak part of the thread, not the low level sensor!
Ok, so basically, at the end of June last, I had to top up my rad by 1.5L and also fill the overflow bottle. Overflow probably takes a good litre I guess.
I said in the other thread that the cruiser wasn't smokey, but it actually is, upon first starting there is white smoke, because this cruiser might sit a week or 2 in between starts I used just put the puff of smoke down to condensation, that's why I said it wasn't smokey in the other thread. But now I'm losing coolant, It's started to dawn on me.
From end of June to sometime in the past few weeks, the system had been operating properly, as in the overflow bottle level had various levels depending on when I checked it, cold engine, warm engine etc. Seemed normal.
Until last weekend, I noticed the bottle was completely empty, this bottle has always been empty in the 10 yrs I own it, I'd top it up but it would always empty over time. However, the rad always remained full; until June this Summer when I had to top it up 1.5L. Now, at end of Sept, my bottle is empty, but more to the point, my rad level is down now again too, it's just above the fins. I'm going to drive it the rest of this week, 300 miles over next 3 days and see if it goes below the fins to see for definite that's it's leaking and also to see how much I have to top it up by at that mark. The rad used always be full to the brim as I believe it should be in this type of system where the rad is constantly pulling / pushing water to/from the overflow.
I also notice that there is a little puff of white smoke when I start it even with the engine still warm where it only sat for a few hours. Nothing major, but a noticeable puff, morning cold starts has a little white smoke too. It has had this white smoke on start-up this years, first start after sitting a while. I never passed much heed as didn't have to top the rad up.
One thing I always found a bit odd, is the fact it heats up very quick, gauge has never over-heated, never passed the centre normal position, but it heats up within 2/3 miles on a cold morning, way quicker than my 2L PD engine Golf which needs about 6-8 miles to reach temp. Can an engine getting to operating temp quickly be a sign of burning coolant? How long does it take for members here for their 90's to heat up? 3L diesel models.
I have a coolant pressure tester kit, need to check if there is an adaptor to fit the rad in it. Does anyone know what pressure the 90 series coolant system should be tested at?
There are no signs of obvious external leaking, no red coolant tell tale signs, it's a SWB manual so no auto coolant pipes or rear heaters, no water in footwells either from a matrix.
Is there a way to test for burning coolant?
Ok, so basically, at the end of June last, I had to top up my rad by 1.5L and also fill the overflow bottle. Overflow probably takes a good litre I guess.
I said in the other thread that the cruiser wasn't smokey, but it actually is, upon first starting there is white smoke, because this cruiser might sit a week or 2 in between starts I used just put the puff of smoke down to condensation, that's why I said it wasn't smokey in the other thread. But now I'm losing coolant, It's started to dawn on me.
From end of June to sometime in the past few weeks, the system had been operating properly, as in the overflow bottle level had various levels depending on when I checked it, cold engine, warm engine etc. Seemed normal.
Until last weekend, I noticed the bottle was completely empty, this bottle has always been empty in the 10 yrs I own it, I'd top it up but it would always empty over time. However, the rad always remained full; until June this Summer when I had to top it up 1.5L. Now, at end of Sept, my bottle is empty, but more to the point, my rad level is down now again too, it's just above the fins. I'm going to drive it the rest of this week, 300 miles over next 3 days and see if it goes below the fins to see for definite that's it's leaking and also to see how much I have to top it up by at that mark. The rad used always be full to the brim as I believe it should be in this type of system where the rad is constantly pulling / pushing water to/from the overflow.
I also notice that there is a little puff of white smoke when I start it even with the engine still warm where it only sat for a few hours. Nothing major, but a noticeable puff, morning cold starts has a little white smoke too. It has had this white smoke on start-up this years, first start after sitting a while. I never passed much heed as didn't have to top the rad up.
One thing I always found a bit odd, is the fact it heats up very quick, gauge has never over-heated, never passed the centre normal position, but it heats up within 2/3 miles on a cold morning, way quicker than my 2L PD engine Golf which needs about 6-8 miles to reach temp. Can an engine getting to operating temp quickly be a sign of burning coolant? How long does it take for members here for their 90's to heat up? 3L diesel models.
I have a coolant pressure tester kit, need to check if there is an adaptor to fit the rad in it. Does anyone know what pressure the 90 series coolant system should be tested at?
There are no signs of obvious external leaking, no red coolant tell tale signs, it's a SWB manual so no auto coolant pipes or rear heaters, no water in footwells either from a matrix.
Is there a way to test for burning coolant?
