Forum:
Firstly I have to say I am a complete noob (a newbie) when it comes to understanding cars. I have a K Reg Sportrak 1.6 Elxi and I have found that I am "apparently" losing water.
I fill up the header tank to the Max, which of course feeds to the radiator, and on the other end has a breather pipe.
A horrible gurgling sound seems to happen when I stop the car after driving for more than 10 minutes, and a couple of days later, the header tank appears to be almost empty.
I am finding it hard to believe that this is "by design" and that the water goes out the breather pipe/over flow, and you are meant to fill this up every 2 days? And yet there is no obvious water leak when the vehicle is stationary, no puddles, no little streams down the driveway, which suggests this is happening whilst driving.
Any clues? Does this happen often?
Many thanks for your considerations.
How many times have you had
How many times have you had to do this?
If the system was very empty itcwould take a while to fill back up if you have air locks in the pipes.
Are the carpets wet?
cheers
Rob
I last filled the header tank
I last filled the header tank in March, and noticed only the other day it was completely empty. I have checked it three or four times in the last two days, and topped it up twice in that time, but I haven't noticed anything wet at all...
...I don't wish to 'over' fill it, but certainly don't want it to overheat and die either.
After you fill it up take it
After you fill it up take it for a run around the block. When you get back is there water dripping from ubderneath? I ask as it you have a leek near the top of the engine it may only leak when running (water under presure) or when the water level is high enough to reach the leeky point.
I just had this problem. Turned out to be the water pump leaking around the impela shaft seals. There is a breather hole in the body of the pump, which water normally doesn't get to. Water was leaking from this. Couldn't see the hole until the pump was removed. Git of a job. Who ever's idea it was to put half the water pump behind the timing belt needs shooting.
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
Personally I would fill the
Personally I would fill the unit till full, and leave running on your
Drive way for an hour!! (Enough time to fully heat engine)
Then stand over the engine and see what is happening, it could be
Any number of things!
Head gasket, radiator, radiator cap! Water pump!! Loads,
Post or pm me when u see what is happening!
Look for a leak, or boiling water in the radiator, be carfull removing
The cap, boiling in the header tank, or blowing out the tank,
If none of the above the heater matrixc could be faulty,
2 inch body lift,
2 inch suspension lift
sj steel rims
31x10.5 tyers
volvo radiator and expanstion tank
upgraded hoses!
vw polo 1.3 supercharged webber carb
to do
snorkel designed just to fit
Maybe cylinder head gasket failure
I don't own a Sporty, but this should not happen - check the following:
1. Is the pressure cap OK (on rad / header tank)? - try replacing it (with a cold engine).
2. It maybe that the cylinder head gasket has failed, so that coolant is getting into the sump - check the oil level in the sump - ensure it's not increasing day-by-day, and that it's not turned into a white emulsion. Also with a cold engine, remove radiator cap, start & run engine, and check that water in the top of the radiator doesn't bubble and smell of exhaust fumes - again caused by cylinder head gasket failure.
The water must be going somewhere - either inside car (heater matrix leak) or out via exhaust (cylinder head).
1985 Veg oil burning Fourtrak "Rocky".
get something like a 500ml
get something like a 500ml plastic water bottle and wedge it in the engine bay with the wee plastic breather pipe going into it , if it collects water during a run the head gasket is leaking compression into the water ways and blowing water out the breather tube... on ours you can see the steam blowing out.. uses about half a gallon on a ten mile run... most of the year pottering about on short runs we dont bother topping it up just keep a close eye on the temp gauge in very hot weather.... its been like it 5 years now... no signs of any water getting into the oil and starts first time whatever the weather.
Gurgling heater matrix.
There is so much usless and incorrect replies being dumped on this site! I begin to wonder if these people actually repair cars.
I can be 99% certain that the heater matrix is leaking. The gurgling is from the air being expelled from the heater matrix. From somewhere whilst driving you are loosing coolant which is being replaced by air. The air collects in the heater matrix but gets expelled next time the engine is cranked. Consequentially the reservoir empties.
Check if the crpet in the footwell is wet. Also check engine side of the baulkhead for loose connections in the heater hose connections.
There is so much usless and
There is so much usless and incorrect replies being dumped on this site! I begin to wonder if these people actually repair cars.
as quoted, by mace, what a knob,
i have done loads to my car as has mowerman, how can you make such a sweeping false statment,
2 inch body lift,
2 inch suspension lift
sj steel rims
31x10.5 tyers
volvo radiator and expanstion tank
upgraded hoses!
vw polo 1.3 supercharged webber carb
to do
snorkel designed just to fit