hi, i recently left work to find coolant bottle was nearly empty so i filled it back up& drove it home. had a look under the bonnet & couldn't find the problem but noticed this pink stuff by the pipe which goes into the engine to the bottom of the radiator. any ideas?

You have found your problem, that pink stuff is dried coolant.

the thermostat is behind that - might be worth changing along with the gasket and plastic pipe to ensure it does not leak in future

Ok thanks... Just wondering when I drove it home good 20 mins or so.. I looked straight away but wasn't leaking?

I guess someone may have been boiling coolant until all that's left is that dry residue, and then coming to stick it round your thermostat flange to make it look like it's leaking...

..... Funny

Is your temp gauge ok also?

Well I drove to work and temp gauge was normal, then when I left work the light came on to say the coolant was low so never got the temperature that high

Its an easy enough job, as mentioned youll need thermostat, o ring, plastic elbow if yours has cracked.

 

And some quarter inch bars with wobble end and I think its a 5mm allen socket.

I was just going to remove the inlet to make it easier and whilst it's off give the inlet a good scrub and clean the inside of all the Crap.

I had a look yesterday and the inlet doesn't seem hard to get off.

Got the housing pipe, gasket, thermostat and 2 litres of red coolant for 19 pound.

Edited 11 October, 201510 yr by themond

Could do that also!  Have fun...