Cooling system

[jello]

Got my car about 2 months ago. On occaision, I see a little bit of coolant leek up in front (under the left side of the radiator). I was initially concerned with this, but I checked the header tank level, and it says I'm full. I looked in the Lotus Service Notes (section KD top of page 6) - it says:

"When fully cold, the level of coolant should be up to the 'cold' mark on the header tank. If overfilled, the excess collant will be ejected when teh engine is warm, and if the level is allowed to fall too low, overheating may result. If necessary, top up the system using an approved coolant mixture (see below) to maintain full protection from freezing damage and corrosion."

My fluid level cold is above the line. My question is this - Where would the coolant get ejected??? It looks like a closed system to me. When I see it leak, it is coming off somewhere around the upper radiator hose fitting. I"ve checked the hose clamp, and it's tight.

Phil

[Low Profile]

This thread may be relevant!

http://www.lotuselancentral.com/forum/v ... ht=coolant

[jello]

While that may be relavent, I still can't find where it's leaking. If it's the head gasket that is presurizing the system and causing it to leak, it still has to have a location to leak. Further, my coolant level in the header tank should go down significantly if that's the case. I check it regularly, and the loss is not significant. Also, I don't see the leak all the time - just on occaision.

[muley]

Got my car about 2 months ago. On occaision, I see a little bit of coolant leek up in front (under the left side of the radiator). I was initially concerned with this, but I checked the header tank level, and it says I'm full. I looked in the Lotus Service Notes (section KD top of page 6) - it says:

"When fully cold, the level of coolant should be up to the 'cold' mark on the header tank. If overfilled, the excess collant will be ejected when teh engine is warm, and if the level is allowed to fall too low, overheating may result. If necessary, top up the system using an approved coolant mixture (see below) to maintain full protection from freezing damage and corrosion."

My fluid level cold is above the line. My question is this - Where would the coolant get ejected??? It looks like a closed system to me. When I see it leak, it is coming off somewhere around the upper radiator hose fitting. I"ve checked the hose clamp, and it's tight.

Phil

Sorry to hear you are having problems. First off I would use a turkey baster (yes, really!) to suck some coolant out and get the level down to where it should be - around the seam on the coolant reservoir. When the system is pressurised under normal conditions the air space will get compressed - if you do not have enough space, there may be excessive pressure. There is no overflow valve, so you are right- it is a closed system.
If you do have a leak on the left hand side - is this viewed from the front of the car? There is normally a bleed valve on the RIGHT as viewed from the front - under the headlight pod, if this is loose/slack it might leak. Also, there is often a drain plug on the same side of the rad - this might leak, too. If the leak is not from either of these places or from a loose hose, then your matrix might have a leak, and you may have to take him to your friendly local rad re-corer.

HTH

Jim

[Guest]

I have a US car, and to me left hand side is the driver's side for a left hand drive car. That would be on the right as I face the car, so, I'll have to check that bleeder. I had the car on ramps to change the oil and filter yesterday, and what I saw was coolant from the upper radiator port down. Not a lot of it, but more than none. The leak is somewhere above the drain plug - I found that too. I couldn't see or evaluate things above that, so I don't know if the bleeder is leaking or not. I'll have to check that out.

[pjohn151]

If the system needs to vent, it will do so through the coolant header tank cap. As the cap can be up to 17 years old, it might be worth buying a new one - they are the same as the Vauxhall Nova/Corsa - as the pressure venting may have seized.

Phil

[jello]

Ok, for some reason, I don't think people understand the initial message.

I was under the car. I GENERALLY, but not specifically, know where it is leaking

It is left hand drive. I called the upper radiator hose connection the left side.

I could see the coolant leaking from the upper radiator hose connection or higher - which I called the left side - (but I couldn't see what might be higher).

The hose clamp is tight.

I know it isn't leaking out the header tank - that is up by the firewall.

I know it isn't leaking by the electric water pump - that is in the center front of the car.

I know it isn't leaking from the drain plug - that is below the upper radiator hose connection.

I haven't checked the bleeder - but will do so soon.

I check the coolant level every day, and I have yet to see it low or with any oil contamination - but on occaision I do see it leak in the location indicated. It doesn't leak all the time, or even every day.

What I didn't (and still don't) know is where "excess coolant" would be "expelled." I'm suspecting, at this point, that the bleeder has a pressure pop off that would do that, and that my leak is not abnormal because my fluid level is a little above the line on the header tank. I guess I'll find that out.

Phil Bates

Phil Bates

[M100 TWO]

Phil it is the cap that releases the pressure it is rated at 120 kPa taking boiling point to about 130 deg.C the bleed plug requires a large dumpy screwdriver to unscrew plug hope this helps
john