Coolant levels?

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:41 pm

Hey guys and gals,
My 97 S1 seems to be 'sipping' coolant. Should I be worried? It has gone from the Max mark to about half way between Max/Min in 3 weeks. Not driving too hard but including the recent hot weather and about 1000 motorway miles (250 miles a trip M6 is pants!) I have read alot about Elises liking to sort their own levels out but also alot about the dreaded HGF. I have none of the classics (Mayo/steam/high temp).

Should I be scared?

It's still under warranty but thats from Bromsgrove, at least £60 in fuel and 2 days off work....!

Any options? I do have AA parts and labour, so do I just run and monitor until things get worse ?

I should have access to a ramp tomorrow so will get the trays off (If I can!) and check for leaks and rad damage......

Thanks y'all

Rich

Post by **simon** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:43 pm

I'd just keep an eye on it just now. Mine sits below the min mark when cold and always has done. Never topped it up as like you said, I'd read that they tend to settle at the right level.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:47 pm

Fair enough. How long did it take to stabilise?

AA can bail me out later I suppose.

cheers

Rich

Post by **simon** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:50 pm

It never has, always sat at that mark. I'm sure others will post later/tomorrow to reassure you.

Post by **Shug** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:12 am

Usual advice is that the 'normal' cold level is actually marked as 'min' on the bottle. When it's hot, it goes further up towards 'max'. Mine has always sat about 1cm under 'min' and will always settle back to that fairly quickly, after topping up.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 5:14 pm

The level seems to stay put even when hot. I will go for a thrash in a bit and check. Car runs at a steady 89-90 even in traffic, rising to 94 when getting a beasting.

Going to have the undertray off soon, if I'm feeling brave, to sort out a rattle. I'll have a look-see for anyhting odd. Anything else worth checking or worth getting before hand, ie replacement fasteners, etc?

TVM

Rich

Post by **simon** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 6:44 pm

Strange, my temp reading gets to 84-86 then stays there unless I slow down to less than 20mph, at which point the reading rises. Never seen it change when driving at speed, even on the track.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:04 pm

The higher temp was in very hot weather on the motorway. Been for a blast for last 45 mins, level seems to have risen a bit straight after but it was v-dark!

I'll monitor for now. Thanks for the reassurance!
Cheers
Rich

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:58 pm

if your undertray bolts are still mild steel then i would replace them with stainless when you put the tray back on

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:30 pm

I will check the racks at work and 'borrow' some....

I'll get some washers too, they have a bit of ali corrosion underneith each one. I'll try to cure my hand brake tizz thats been driving me nuts too!

Any idea where I can get some more threaded clip things? Some seemed a little worn when I took the trays off earlier

Very suprised as the bolts were greased! Easy to remove even without a jack. Fitting a gear link upgrade tomorrow bit it 'seems' quite tight but I've bought it now!

Looks like the cat has fouled the diffuser at some point and it has worn a groove and has gone thru in one place. I might see if I can get it welded in the workshops but the plate seems quite thick and not going to fall apart.

Zorst downpipe looks nearly new, just a consistant brown rust, the cat looks quite tidy and the back box looks ok, but the tails are pretty manky to say the least. Now looking at a Larini and Hurricane....

Just e-mailed Bell Direct to see the hiden costs, robbing buggers!

TTFN
Rich

offshorematt · Post by **offshorematt** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:34 pm

Be careful with stainless steel fixings in the aliminium tub - you can set up galvanic corrosion cells. Better just to Kopr Kote the screws and replace them every couple of years...

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 4:49 pm

Fair enough I can't find any suitable at work anyway, I'll replace like for like with copious amounts of grease.

I'm going to see if I can get some either zinc or pure ali sacrificial washers made to see if that will help. My chemistry isn't too good but got to be worth a try. Anyone know better?

TVM

Rich

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:25 pm

Bit of an update, I think I have found my coolant leak

Looks like the rad top hose! Just damp at tickover but I suspect that it might be more under power.

How do you get to the other end of the rad? I assume it's behind the front tray?

TVM

Rich

Post by **Shug** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:05 pm

Working with the rad is a royal cnut. You'll probably need the front clam off to have any meaningful look at what you can't see via the wheelarch...

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:34 pm

Not tackeled it yet, but I'm confused...

Come back from a weekend at the girlfriends leaving liz in the car park, come back and check levels and its gone from min on thursday night to half way between min and max this morning? Where did the coolant come from?

Oh I give up!

From now on I'm not going to worry until it all dissappears...