Had a Low Coolant Alarm ping up halfway through on the day on the vRS sat on the GF's drive (car had been driven that morning without issue). Taking a look under the bonnet it needed about 1 mugful to get up to the minimum level.

 

Now also owning an MG, my attitude towards coolant heads towards paranoia So is this normal? Or is a little coolant usage normal when running in the engine?

Mine was a little low on delivery and dropped a little more in few thousand miles, topped it upto max and it's been fine since.

My level went down very slightly in the first 1k but hasn't moved since.

 

I understand your paranoia towards coolant systems. Owned a Rover 25, head gasket went on my Astra and I had coolant leaks on my Focus and Fiesta

Engines don't consume coolant.  I can understand the level dropping a bit in the first few tens of miles as air locks from filling the system find their way out, other drops must be a leak somewhere I'd think.  Have a look for crusty bits Round the ends of a hose. Somebody had a seeping rad recently too....If you can't see any crusty bits, and the level keeps dropping, speak to the dealer

Shortly after receiving my VRS I noticed some tiny spots of fluid under the car. Wiping the under tray revealed the slightest of pink fluid leaks. A radiator leak was initially suspected but it turned out to be a faulty coolant pump. My dealer replaced the faulty item, but it would have taken weeks/months for the tiny leak to lose enough fluid to raise the alarm.

Check for any fluid towards the front of the under tray after a long drive.

Edited 24 March, 201412 yr by Orville