Loss of coolant

[Adam]

Ford focus 04 1.8 petrol 50k

Seems I have a coolant leak. I have just topped up, its been about 3/4 weeks
(I know) but have discovered the coolant was just below the minimum line, no
warning lights came on though.

So I have topped it up and will keep and eye on it. I have had it running
and have been watching for leaks and can see none. I have checked the hoses
from the coolant tank to the radiator, thermostat and see no signs of leaks
either usually a white residue. What I can't see is if its a radiator
leaking. Although it wasn't up to temp when I just looked.

Any ideas of what I can do to hunt this leak down. Usually they are obvious
and I can see signs of it and visually see the leak.

Thanks

[Mrcheerful]

Adam wrote:
> Ford focus 04 1.8 petrol 50k
>
> Seems I have a coolant leak. I have just topped up, its been about
> 3/4 weeks (I know) but have discovered the coolant was just below the
> minimum line, no warning lights came on though.
>
> So I have topped it up and will keep and eye on it. I have had it
> running and have been watching for leaks and can see none. I have
> checked the hoses from the coolant tank to the radiator, thermostat
> and see no signs of leaks either usually a white residue. What I
> can't see is if its a radiator leaking. Although it wasn't up to temp
> when I just looked.
> Any ideas of what I can do to hunt this leak down. Usually they are
> obvious and I can see signs of it and visually see the leak.
>
> Thanks

The most common on those is the thermostat housing, it and its seal distort.
Take it off and have a look, the give away is if the bolts are all cruddy
(they should be clean and nice) . I have sealed them up again successfully
if the distortion is mild, but often they need a new, modified housing.

[Adam]

"Mrcheerful" < - > wrote in message
news:QLYhr.176938$ - 4...
> Adam wrote:
>> Ford focus 04 1.8 petrol 50k
>>
>> Seems I have a coolant leak. I have just topped up, its been about
>> 3/4 weeks (I know) but have discovered the coolant was just below the
>> minimum line, no warning lights came on though.
>>
>> So I have topped it up and will keep and eye on it. I have had it
>> running and have been watching for leaks and can see none. I have
>> checked the hoses from the coolant tank to the radiator, thermostat
>> and see no signs of leaks either usually a white residue. What I
>> can't see is if its a radiator leaking. Although it wasn't up to temp
>> when I just looked.
>> Any ideas of what I can do to hunt this leak down. Usually they are
>> obvious and I can see signs of it and visually see the leak.
>>
>> Thanks
>
> The most common on those is the thermostat housing, it and its seal
> distort. Take it off and have a look, the give away is if the bolts are
> all cruddy (they should be clean and nice) . I have sealed them up again
> successfully if the distortion is mild, but often they need a new,
> modified housing.
>

Ah ha, I see. Sounds like the culprit. There is no over heating either. My
neighbour said it could be the waterpump/head gasket. Bar the loss of
coolant no other symptoms of those are present like white smoke and over
heating so hopefuly that's not it. I will start with the t'stat housing.
Usually I only top the tank up by an inch a month usually but today it was
just a smidge under minimum, glad I checked!

I'll monitor the coolant tank daily to see how it goes for a week ? and then
approach the stat housing just to see if there is any further loss. I'm just
wodneirng as I've been using the heating a lot in those 3/4 weeks if that
affects coolant levels ? and now not at all.

.....goes to have a look at the stat bolts ... ok heres a photo might be
better than my ramblings

Code:

Content visible to registered users only.

As always thanks for the guidance MrCheerful

[Chris Whelan]

On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:32:22 +0100, Adam wrote:

[...]

> Any ideas of what I can do to hunt this leak down. Usually they are
> obvious and I can see signs of it and visually see the leak.
>
> Thanks

Best way of finding small leaks like this is with a pressure test. The
system is pumped up to double the normal pressure, and leaks soon shoe up.

Any local garage should be able to do this for you.

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

[Adam]

"Chris Whelan" < - > wrote in message
news:5uZhr.18063$ - 4...
> On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:32:22 +0100, Adam wrote:
>
> [...]
>
>> Any ideas of what I can do to hunt this leak down. Usually they are
>> obvious and I can see signs of it and visually see the leak.
>>
>> Thanks
>
> Best way of finding small leaks like this is with a pressure test. The
> system is pumped up to double the normal pressure, and leaks soon shoe up.
>
> Any local garage should be able to do this for you.
>
> Chris
>

Interesting, perhaps this would be the way to go to see where its coming
from. Hopefully this is a cheap test.

In he interest in saving some money, I was going to leave some cardboard
underneath overnight to see if that can help me identify the leaks location
or approximate location for me to beging investigating further.

So far the likely suspect seems the thermostat housing as its a common fault
on the focus, a few suggestions from goggling point to broken seal in filler
cap, radiator, coolant pipes and a cracked block.

I guess I'll start with the cardboard and keep and eye on the coolant over
the next week and see how it is. If its still dropping a pressure test will
show where its going (is this an expensive procedure?) Although I have a
hunch its the thermostat housing as MrC says when is he wrong hehe.

Thanks

[Adam]

"Mrcheerful" < - > wrote in message
news:QLYhr.176938$ - 4...
> Adam wrote:
>> Ford focus 04 1.8 petrol 50k
>>
>> Seems I have a coolant leak. I have just topped up, its been about
>> 3/4 weeks (I know) but have discovered the coolant was just below the
>> minimum line, no warning lights came on though.
>>
>> So I have topped it up and will keep and eye on it. I have had it
>> running and have been watching for leaks and can see none. I have
>> checked the hoses from the coolant tank to the radiator, thermostat
>> and see no signs of leaks either usually a white residue. What I
>> can't see is if its a radiator leaking. Although it wasn't up to temp
>> when I just looked.
>> Any ideas of what I can do to hunt this leak down. Usually they are
>> obvious and I can see signs of it and visually see the leak.
>>
>> Thanks
>
> The most common on those is the thermostat housing, it and its seal
> distort. Take it off and have a look, the give away is if the bolts are
> all cruddy (they should be clean and nice) . I have sealed them up again
> successfully if the distortion is mild, but often they need a new,
> modified housing.
>

Is it the plastic of the housing that warps or is it the rubber seal inside
that gives up as I see you can buy the rubber seal for about £6 on ebay
possibly cheaper from ford.

[Mrcheerful]

Adam wrote:
> "Mrcheerful" < - > wrote in message
> news:QLYhr.176938$ - 4...
>> Adam wrote:
>>> Ford focus 04 1.8 petrol 50k
>>>
>>> Seems I have a coolant leak. I have just topped up, its been about
>>> 3/4 weeks (I know) but have discovered the coolant was just below
>>> the minimum line, no warning lights came on though.
>>>
>>> So I have topped it up and will keep and eye on it. I have had it
>>> running and have been watching for leaks and can see none. I have
>>> checked the hoses from the coolant tank to the radiator, thermostat
>>> and see no signs of leaks either usually a white residue. What I
>>> can't see is if its a radiator leaking. Although it wasn't up to
>>> temp when I just looked.
>>> Any ideas of what I can do to hunt this leak down. Usually they are
>>> obvious and I can see signs of it and visually see the leak.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>
>> The most common on those is the thermostat housing, it and its seal
>> distort. Take it off and have a look, the give away is if the bolts
>> are all cruddy (they should be clean and nice) . I have sealed them
>> up again successfully if the distortion is mild, but often they need
>> a new, modified housing.
>>
>
> Is it the plastic of the housing that warps or is it the rubber seal
> inside that gives up as I see you can buy the rubber seal for about
> £6 on ebay possibly cheaper from ford.

both bits go, sometimes with careful clean up and some goo you can get away
with the housing (which is about 50 quid)

[Mrcheerful]

Adam wrote:
> "Chris Whelan" < - > wrote in message
> news:5uZhr.18063$ - 4...
>> On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:32:22 +0100, Adam wrote:
>>
>> [...]
>>
>>> Any ideas of what I can do to hunt this leak down. Usually they are
>>> obvious and I can see signs of it and visually see the leak.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>
>> Best way of finding small leaks like this is with a pressure test.
>> The system is pumped up to double the normal pressure, and leaks
>> soon shoe up. Any local garage should be able to do this for you.
>>
>> Chris
>>
>
> Interesting, perhaps this would be the way to go to see where its
> coming from. Hopefully this is a cheap test.
>
> In he interest in saving some money, I was going to leave some
> cardboard underneath overnight to see if that can help me identify
> the leaks location or approximate location for me to beging
> investigating further.
> So far the likely suspect seems the thermostat housing as its a
> common fault on the focus, a few suggestions from goggling point to
> broken seal in filler cap, radiator, coolant pipes and a cracked
> block.
> I guess I'll start with the cardboard and keep and eye on the coolant
> over the next week and see how it is. If its still dropping a
> pressure test will show where its going (is this an expensive
> procedure?) Although I have a hunch its the thermostat housing as MrC
> says when is he wrong hehe.
> Thanks

slow hard to find loss is usually the thermo housing, which is hard to see
below, if you can then you should see dribble marks, maybe a mirror on a
stick will let you have a look. my recommendation is to just dismantle it
anyway and eliminate it from your enquiries, it is after all fairly easy to
get at.

[Adam]

"Mrcheerful" < - > wrote in message
news:wy_hr.78928$ - 4...
> Adam wrote:
>> "Mrcheerful" < - > wrote in message
>> news:QLYhr.176938$ - 4...
>>> Adam wrote:
>>>> Ford focus 04 1.8 petrol 50k
>>>>
>>>> Seems I have a coolant leak. I have just topped up, its been about
>>>> 3/4 weeks (I know) but have discovered the coolant was just below
>>>> the minimum line, no warning lights came on though.
>>>>
>>>> So I have topped it up and will keep and eye on it. I have had it
>>>> running and have been watching for leaks and can see none. I have
>>>> checked the hoses from the coolant tank to the radiator, thermostat
>>>> and see no signs of leaks either usually a white residue. What I
>>>> can't see is if its a radiator leaking. Although it wasn't up to
>>>> temp when I just looked.
>>>> Any ideas of what I can do to hunt this leak down. Usually they are
>>>> obvious and I can see signs of it and visually see the leak.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> The most common on those is the thermostat housing, it and its seal
>>> distort. Take it off and have a look, the give away is if the bolts
>>> are all cruddy (they should be clean and nice) . I have sealed them
>>> up again successfully if the distortion is mild, but often they need
>>> a new, modified housing.
>>>
>>
>> Is it the plastic of the housing that warps or is it the rubber seal
>> inside that gives up as I see you can buy the rubber seal for about
>> £6 on ebay possibly cheaper from ford.
>
> both bits go, sometimes with careful clean up and some goo you can get
> away with the housing (which is about 50 quid)
>

I guess it could work out simpler to change it and for peace of mind. First
step is getting it apart looks straight forward from what the haynes manual
says for once its not telling me to dismantle half the engine to get to a
screw

[Adam]

"Mrcheerful" < - > wrote in message
news:wy_hr.78929$ - 4...
> Adam wrote:
>> "Chris Whelan" < - > wrote in message
>> news:5uZhr.18063$ - 4...
>>> On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:32:22 +0100, Adam wrote:
>>>
>>> [...]
>>>
>>>> Any ideas of what I can do to hunt this leak down. Usually they are
>>>> obvious and I can see signs of it and visually see the leak.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Best way of finding small leaks like this is with a pressure test.
>>> The system is pumped up to double the normal pressure, and leaks
>>> soon shoe up. Any local garage should be able to do this for you.
>>>
>>> Chris
>>>
>>
>> Interesting, perhaps this would be the way to go to see where its
>> coming from. Hopefully this is a cheap test.
>>
>> In he interest in saving some money, I was going to leave some
>> cardboard underneath overnight to see if that can help me identify
>> the leaks location or approximate location for me to beging
>> investigating further.
>> So far the likely suspect seems the thermostat housing as its a
>> common fault on the focus, a few suggestions from goggling point to
>> broken seal in filler cap, radiator, coolant pipes and a cracked
>> block.
>> I guess I'll start with the cardboard and keep and eye on the coolant
>> over the next week and see how it is. If its still dropping a
>> pressure test will show where its going (is this an expensive
>> procedure?) Although I have a hunch its the thermostat housing as MrC
>> says when is he wrong hehe.
>> Thanks
>
> slow hard to find loss is usually the thermo housing, which is hard to see
> below, if you can then you should see dribble marks, maybe a mirror on a
> stick will let you have a look. my recommendation is to just dismantle it
> anyway and eliminate it from your enquiries, it is after all fairly easy
> to get at.
>

Yeah I think thats the first port of call and doesn't seem to involved,
hopefully a job for the weekend weather permitting. A process of elimination
I feel like columbo