Water bubbling!!!! Xantia

wrinklet1 · Unread post by **wrinklet1** » 24 Jul 2003, 17:56

Hi again, today I checked the expansion tank on my Xantia TDSX hatch, and lo and behold the water wasn't there. I filled it up and started the engine up with the radiator cap off. I kept topping it up and revving the engine to get the thermostat open, once that was open a lot of fine bubbles started to appear, in fact it was like foam.
Now maybe it may just be that it is air bubbles finding there way out, or, could the head gasket have gone? I have no white deposits in the oil and no sign of water leaking (not been able to get under the car yet to check), maybe it may be a split hose! ANY IDEAS???
Regards
Paul

Unread post by **Jon** » 24 Jul 2003, 18:18

hmmmm, oh dear, the fact that there was no water in it would suggest either that it has leaked away, or been burnt by the combustion process via a leaky head gasket or cracked head.
The best plan would be to turn the heater on full fill up then bleed the system, then run the car, ensuring that all air is purged.Then proceed to a garage with a pressure tester. If there is a problem, then the guage on the pressure tester will drop rapidly! If there is a leak e.g. from a hose then the 15PSi from the pressure tseter will generally cause water to be forced out from the housing or pipe at fault. If this does not happen, and pressure drops it is fair to assume that the problem is with the head itself or the head gasket.

Jonesy · Unread post by **Jonesy** » 24 Jul 2003, 23:52

I'm afraid I agree with Jon, this sounds like a classic head gasket failure, especially as you cannot see where the coolant is going!

EDD · Unread post by **EDD** » 25 Jul 2003, 05:22

I agree with your other two replies, it sounds very much like head gasket failure. In the past I've pressurised the cooling system with the aid of my waxoil kit and a bit "inventiveness", this will reveal any leaks in your pipework or radiator. A tyre pump may do but whatch out for the pressure you do'nt need alot.
EDD

wrinklet1 · Unread post by **wrinklet1** » 25 Jul 2003, 12:37

Thanks so far for your replies, EDD, you say you used a tyre pump, did you attach your pump tp the vent on the top hose near the fuel injection pump?
I hadn't opened the heater valve before, so I have now, and the water level hasn't dropped down at all since refilling it.!!!
As Dr.Evil would say 'frickin wierd'

mbunting · Unread post by **mbunting** » 25 Jul 2003, 13:33

Excuse me for asking a really stupid question..
How can you 'pressurise' the cooling system when there is the leak-off on the expansion tank ? Or does the spring thing on the cap block this off until the pressure gets so high ?
Mat.

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 25 Jul 2003, 15:14

Mat -
That's not a stupid - but a logic - question [:)]
Either you block off the normal breather cap - or you are limited to the standard system pressure - some 1.5bar.
Note that using pressurised air directly off compressor tank can be disastrous - since this pressure is commonly in the 8-10bar range - way too much for the coolant hoses.

wrinklet1 · Unread post by **wrinklet1** » 27 Jul 2003, 12:59

Success I THINK.[:)]
I connected my electric tyre pump to the top vent on the hose that returns to the expantion tank (after I had run the car to get the thermostat open). I had the 'rad cap' on and pumped the pressure up to around 15psi. Lo and behold WATER from the bottom weld of my radiator. I turned the pump off and then released the cap from the expansion tank, boom!! the cap flew off and 6ft of warm/hot water flew up into the air....It was funny really, no damage done in any way except tasting anti freeze laden water.
A quick call to confirm that was my problem to Andyspares and to check if a local branch had one in stock. Yes they had, oft I jolly well went.
Got the new radiator, fitted in 30 mins, topped up, run and checked and SO FAR SO GOOD.
Thanks for all the help especially EDD with the idea of pressure testing.
Paul,
PS Watch thies space.

EDD · Unread post by **EDD** » 28 Jul 2003, 04:42

Hope you have solved your problem.There was no need to run your engine till the thermostat opened as the whole cooling system would have been under pressure.You were luck not to have scalded yourself by removing the radiator cap, at least you had a laugh. WE all have to learn.
Fingers crossed EDD.