Topping up coolant

arry_b · Unread post by **arry_b** » 19 Jul 2004, 03:44

How much topping up of the coolant do the Diesel engines need when they're in good order?
A friend puts in half a pint every 3 months (5000 miles). This hasn't got any worse in 2 years. No visible leaks, smells or signs of HG problems.
Should he be worried or is it normal?

np · Unread post by np » 19 Jul 2004, 03:59

I haven`t needed to put any in since may 03 when i had the rad fixed.Flushed,new coolant etc..
Done about 15k since,not used a drop.
When i got the car,i had to top it up,but soon found the header tank cap was faulty.Put a new one on,then the rad went.Been fine since then.
He may find the cap is very slightly leaking,no visable signs on mine,until we stoped half way up Mont Blanc with the caravan,then found the leak!!

DLM · Unread post by **DLM** » 19 Jul 2004, 04:41

You don't need to refill up to the brim on a normally-asiprated XUD engine which has expansion tank integral with the radiator. If you overfill, it does bleed away via the expansion cap until it finds the right level (assuming it was bled properly in the first place). Hence the strange pull-up level-indicator tube on BX radiators that never seems to be found on most cars. I suspect that mechanics threw them away, confused about the purpose. If the ZX is similarly-equipped, then check this first.

DLM · Unread post by **DLM** » 19 Jul 2004, 04:45

This advice comes after watching a BX-owning mechanic attend to my XUD-engined BX. I'd come to him thinking that my newly-fitted head gasket or some other part of the cooling system was losing water, but he advised (and demonstrated how)to fill up with a coke-bottle "header tank" to bleed the system, then allow any excess to boil away in the manner described above.

James.UK · Unread post by **James.UK** » 19 Jul 2004, 17:31

Hi Arry, when I first got my ZX I tried to keep the water level about 2 inches below the top in the header tank, but it just dropped like a stone back down to about 6 inches after a couple of even short journeys! So I left it for a while to 'let it settle'. It hasnt moved since.. [:D]
The Aura is exactly the same.. If I fill it up it just spits out the surplus within a few miles.. I think they like to run at around half way up the header tank no matter what you do.

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 19 Jul 2004, 18:15

I've got two Xantiae that use no coolant whatsoever, they've had coolant changes and needed no topups between them.

TomH · Unread post by **TomH** » 19 Jul 2004, 22:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by James.UK

Hi Arry, when I first got my ZX I tried to keep the water level about 2 inches below the top in the header tank, but it just dropped like a stone back down to about 6 inches after a couple of even short journeys! So I left it for a while to 'let it settle'. It hasnt moved since.. [:D]
The Aura is exactly the same.. If I fill it up it just spits out the surplus within a few miles.. I think they like to run at around half way up the header tank no matter what you do.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
yeah mine is the same

Stuart McB · Unread post by **Stuart McB** » 20 Jul 2004, 00:13

My old ZX td always spat the coolant out after a bit but that was put right with a new rad cap. After that the coolant level was about half way up (or down) the tank on the rad. It never moved from one moth to the next.

arry_b · Unread post by **arry_b** » 20 Jul 2004, 04:24

Odd Innit? Nine uses none at all. I'll tell him to leave it half a pint down the expansion tank and see if it continues to disappear.
Thanks for the info guys.

mark_sp · Unread post by **mark_sp** » 20 Jul 2004, 16:59

My 1998 Xantia TD with 72K miles uses no coolant but the level sits near the bottom of the expansion tank just registering on the coolant dip stick. In the past I've topped it up above this level and it just adjusts itself back to this level.
Mark

JohnCKL · Unread post by **JohnCKL** » 21 Jul 2004, 08:54

My 96 Xantia 1.9TD doesn't use up any coolant either. I filled it up to the max and it remains without losing any. If you suspect any leaks, get the mechanic to do a coolant compression test. If no leaks show up, get a new cap as the old one may be leaking.

wrinklet1 · Unread post by **wrinklet1** » 21 Jul 2004, 15:26

Hi arry_b,
At a guess through experience,I think you will find that your friends water levels are dropping because there is a leak in the radiator.It will only be leaking when the car is hot and the system is under pressure, therefore, it will evaporate instantly and no signs of a leak will be seen. If it is on a xantia, there is a coolant pipe that goes over the top engine mount that might have a tyre type valve cap.If so, warm the engine slightly, the release the pressure taking great care of steam. Once released, undo the tyre valve cap on the hose, and connect a tyre pump to it, and presuries the system to about 15psi, NO MORE , Once the pressure is up, you should be able to find where the leak is coming from. Mine was at the bottom left hand side of the radiator. If it is the radiator, it will take about 1 hour to change, and while it is out, take the chance to give the intercooler a clean and the panels that you cant normally get to a good clean.
Good Luck,
Paul.

James.UK · Unread post by **James.UK** » 22 Jul 2004, 19:02

My Friends car had a slight radiator leak (pug 406 1.9D)AND kept steaming up inside, so prob a matrix leak as well, so he shoved some 'Fortes' rad sealer in as a "temporary" measure. That was about a year ago! and the car is running very well, no longer steams up, and no longer loses any water..