Coolant Leak??

[dgexafs]

I notices last night that i seem to have a small leak coming from underneath the radiator which i think is coolant (slight pink colour). It seems to drip down through a hole in the undertray and formed a pathc maybe 2 inches around on my drive. After driving into work this morning i can see a few drops of liquid forming on the undertray in a similar position and i have a couple of questions after searching the forums - and my car is a classic so no no air con , 54 plate

(1) is there any connections in this vicinity that may be leaking

(2) on the expander tank for the liquid, it has been filled to about half way up (i.e. above the two marks on the lower half of the sphere - i have had the car 3 weeks and thats where it was full too when i picked it up - is the top the maximum level and if it is overfilled could this be the cause?

(3) should i just keep an eye on it, or does it need to go into the garage asap.

I am not sure if the coolant level is dropping in the tank - i am going out in about 30 mins to check it again once it has cooled down.

Thanks for your help

dave.

[vimto2000]

Are you definately sure its not the condensation off the AC?

[mdk1]

and my car is a classic so no no air con , 54 plate

Are you definately sure its not the condensation off the AC?

vimto, don't think it's that

[dstev2000]

If you have had the car only three weeks then I think you are well within your rights to take it back and get the garage to give it the once over, a tiny leak could change into an effing great leak at the wrong moment like 70mph on the motorway.

If it's pink then it must be the coolant.

[cheezemonkhai]

If you have had the car only three weeks then I think you are well within your rights to take it back and get the garage to give it the once over, a tiny leak could change into an effing great leak at the wrong moment like 70mph on the motorway.

If it's pink then it must be the coolant.

Yes and that's pretty damn unpleasant I can tell you :( That goes doubly so when you are stranded on a m/way with no hard shoulder

[dstev2000]

I can only imagine what that must be like, none too pleasant though :thumbdwn:

Funnily enough there was a Mazda stuck in lane 2 of the M25 this morning, what the hell are you supposed to do in that situation? Call the police and pray everyone sees you.

[dgexafs]

Thanks for the advice guys, the car is off to the garage tomorrow morning for them to have a look at.

Now heres the odd bit.

Yesterday morning arriving at work - leak seen.

Drove home last night - no leak.

Drove in this morning - leaks again.

Whats the only difference? I used the rear winscreen washer - which is not working properly i have now realised (no wet spot in the back passenegr side or boot yet that i can see)

But the fluid i can see is definetely pink (i have collected some in a dropper) and my screen wash liquid is the Skoda stuff which is BLUE!

[cheezemonkhai]

I can only imagine what that must be like, none too pleasant though :thumbdwn:

Funnily enough there was a Mazda stuck in lane 2 of the M25 this morning, what the hell are you supposed to do in that situation? Call the police and pray everyone sees you.

I stole some traffic work bollards that were on the side of the road and pulled them out to at least give some distance behind my car.

[SlobbyK]

Just so you don't feel quite so alone on this, I bought my Octy II on 19 April 07, 2 days & 14 miles later warning alarm sounds. Coolant level now reduced from minimum to below sphere.

Saw drips and took straight back to main dealer in Manchester. They diagnosed new radiator needed.

Got it back the following Wed, took it back last Sat, coolant below sphere again. Told me tonight it should be ready tomorrow (Wed), it required a radiator 'joint' whatever that is.

Got them to realign the steering wheel which was offset, 10 past rather than 12 noon.

Had the car two weeks tomorrow, done a massive 74 miles in the 4 days I've had it.

Maybe I'll never have any more probs...........

[dgexafs]

Yup mine wanted a new radiator which has been fitted no problems at all. Now i just need the bonnet release catch sorted (tomorrow) as its rather a flimsy plastic thing and if the main catch is slighty tight it comes off (well shears) nicely in your hand.

Cannot complain about the dealer i bought it from as they have been incredibly helpful and swift to sort out the problem(s) to date.

Will post a review in the right place when i have had all the work completed tommorrow.

[radders]

Hi

My car was serviced 10 days ago and has since then drained the expansion tank twice, which is nice!!!

It is going in tomorrow for a pressure test and from searching this forum, it seems to be pointing towards a head gasket i.e. no noticable leak. My question is, what is the warranty period and would that fault be covered? The car is a Feb 05 2.0TDi with about 56,000 miles.

Thanks

Mark

[dgexafs]

Mark,

I would expect the fault would be covered as you are within the 3 year / 60 k warranty period.

If the head gasket has gone the oil filler cap (should) have sludge on it.

One query, did they do anything to the coolant system during your service?? After my radidator was replaced, i emptied the expansion tank twice and since then it has been stable ever since... My understanding was that there are a number of potential air locks which are a pain to clear (lack of bleed valves).

One thing to try - fil the reservoir up, let the car run up to warm and then turn the heating up to maximum (the heating circuit runs off the main coolant circuit apparantely) for a few mins and then hopefully the problem may have left left you.

Good luck getting it fixed.

Dave

[peterg1955]

My car was still losing coolant after the turbo disintegrated and I'd had the turbo, intercooler and full exhaust system AND the head gasket replaced and after much investigation by Winchester Skoda including re-replacing the EGR valve and having the cylinder head crack tested etc they ended up replacing the whole engine block!! (July 05 car but with only 14000 miles on it)

[radders]

Apparently my car has a leaking seam on the radiator. I couldn't see it but then again it has rained a bit recently, so it was all wet. Anyway, it is now booked in to be replaced next week (under warranty) and they have given me a 1l bottle of coolant until then.

I know that a lot of people have been complaining about the lack of support from their dealers, but Ashmore Green in Newbury have been spot on so far. Time will tell if they were right with their fault diagnosis.

Mark

[dgexafs]

Thats exactkly the same problem i had with the rad - takes about 2 hours to fix.

When you get it back i would still drive it with the heating on for 10 mins , stop and fill up your reservoir as it will almost certainly be low (due to releasing air locks) nothing worse than the ding ding ding and flashing coolant lights when in the outside lane of the motorway!!