Coolant level drop

Amouar

Hi all,

I bought my car in September last year and the coolant level was slightly below the max line.

The coolant is now almost between the min and max lines, and therefore the level dropped by around 1cm in 6 months. The car has done 4k kms of mostly motorway driving. Is it ok to have this kind of coolant level drop or is it usually due to a leak somewhere?

Thanks

Andrewf20

That sounds pretty normal. Small losses like this occur all the time in my experience especiall if it's an older car where rubber hoses will be more perished etc.

Car99

4000kms 10mm drop . It could be something like a weak seal on the coolant reservoir . Anyway topping up 20mm every year wouldn't cause you too much concern.

wonski

Minor leak maybe, while not perfect, keep an eye on it. You can easily check some seals and connection and see if the fluid leak is visible.

Could be start of something more serious like leaking water pump, could be nothing serious at all.

The level might go up and down a little depending on the temp (expansion), but I guess you checked it many times so know the difference.

Of course top up a little if it ever goes near minimum and keep an eye on temperature gauge.

Amouar

Thanks all.

I'll buy a bottle of the coolant and will top it up. I will also keep an eye on the coolant level on a weekly basis and see if there is anything wrong.

R.O.R

What kind of car is it? Coolant loss can be associated with an EGR failure.

If its a BMW that could result in a thermal incident...

cuculainn

sorry for jumping on the thread, but i have the opposite problem. my coolant level have increased to the point of overflowing, also the heater intermittantly blows cold air

any ideas? its booked in to the garage but would like to get your opinions be appreciated

Amouar

R.O.R wrote: »

What kind of car is it? Coolant loss can be associated with an EGR failure.

If its a BMW that could result in a thermal incident...

My car is a 2013 Peugeot 3008.

MTBD

cuculainn wrote: »

sorry for jumping on the thread, but i have the opposite problem. my coolant level have increased to the point of overflowing, also the heater intermittantly blows cold air

any ideas? its booked in to the garage but would like to get your opinions be appreciated

Sounds like a head gasket failure. The system is being pressurised somewhere if it's overflowing. Cold air from the fan would be another symptom.

cuculainn

MTBD wrote: »

Sounds like a head gasket failure. The system is being pressurised somewhere if it's overflowing. Cold air from the fan would be another symptom.

Thanks for replying MTBD. What are the causes of a head gasket failure? The car is 132. With 100k miles

wonski

And that is why you don't jump on other people threads

Not only not polite thing to do, but also confusing as f***.

Open the new one and tell people the make, model and engine

cuculainn

wonski wrote: »

And that is why you don't jump on other people threads

Not only not polite thing to do, but also confusing as f***.

Open the new one and tell people the make, model and engine

Sorry

CoBo55

wonski wrote: »

And that is why you don't jump on other people threads

Not only not polite thing to do, but also confusing as f***.

Open the new one and tell people the make, model and engine

Winking mod....

CoBo55

cuculainn wrote: »

sorry for jumping on the thread, but i have the opposite problem. my coolant level have increased to the point of overflowing, also the heater intermittantly blows cold air

any ideas? its booked in to the garage but would like to get your opinions be appreciated

Could be a lazy thermostat allowing the engine to boil or a failing water pump, the internal impeller slipping on the shaft and the water boils. Don't keep driving it or you could do a lot of damage.

wonski

CoBo55 wrote: »

Winking mod....

Maybe I want to know what I respond to as a leak and and overspill are two different things.

Think about it.

CoBo55

wonski wrote: »

Maybe I want to know what I respond to as a leak and and overspill are two different things.

Think about it.

Just read the posts;) it's not difficult;););););););)
Enough winks for you?

jmreire

MTBD wrote: »

Sounds like a head gasket failure. The system is being pressurised somewhere if it's overflowing. Cold air from the fan would be another symptom.

Yes MTBD, I would say so too. When it's good and hot...try squeezing the top water hose...if it feels hard that's a good indication also that the head gasket is gone, and over-pressurizing the system.

Doctors room ghost

Have a look under the bonnet with the engine running and you might find the source of the leak although it’s small.easier find when running and pressured

wonski

CoBo55 wrote: »

Just read the posts;) it's not difficult;););););););)
Enough winks for you?

There are people now responding to the leak again.

Confusing enough?

I put winks so the post appear to be more friendly. One is more than enough. Thanks.

I don't care that much anyway. Not sure why you do tbh.

cuculainn

wonski wrote: »

There are people now responding to the leak again.

Confusing enough?

I put winks so the post appear to be more friendly. One is more than enough. Thanks.

I don't care that much anyway. Not sure why you do tbh.

I apologize most sincerely for the confusion caused. I sorta thought the leak issue had been dealt with when I jumped on the thread........lesson learned.


Anyway. It looks like my issue(overfilling coolant and heater blowing cold) is the head gasket going by what was posted here.

Anyway it's into the garage today so we will see.
It is a Mazda 6 2.2d

Pekarirska

Amouar wrote: »

Thanks all.

I'll buy a bottle of the coolant and will top it up. I will also keep an eye on the coolant level on a weekly basis and see if there is anything wrong.

That makes sense.

The coolant can behave very unpredictable according to my experience.

Bought an old banger that was sitting on a driveway for a while. The coolant level was ok. Did few long drives on a motorway, about 2k, checked the coolant... the level nowhere to be seen, the reservoir empty... almost got a heart attach! Topped it up to the max, then after few kms checked again and almost down to the minimum. Topped up again and the level stable ever since.

Dehydration I would say

CoBo55

Pekarirska wrote: »

That makes sense.

The coolant can behave very unpredictable according to my experience.

Bought an old banger that was sitting on a driveway for a while. The coolant level was ok. Did few long drives on a motorway, about 2k, checked the coolant... the level nowhere to be seen, the reservoir empty... almost got a heart attach! Topped it up to the max, then after few kms checked again and almost down to the minimum. Topped up again and the level stable ever since.

Dehydration I would say

Airlock or weepy water pump that stopped after a bit of use, many pumps only leak when stopped.