How often are you supposed to top up the coolant?

**Captain Jack** 17/9/2008, 5:06 am

Just got home and bout to put the steering lock on, noticed that my air filter was drooping slightly, tightened that up but also noticed my coolant has dropped bout a cm.

Not really noticed any thing, does this just drop/evaporate?

Bearing in mind it hasn't really been looked at since January, but has always seemed fine before.........

**Dark Knight** 17/9/2008, 6:31 pm

Could be something as simple as the cap!

Shouldnt really just evaporate off as it is a pressurised system, if you are getting evaoporation then the cap is faulty, I'd check your oild for signs of coolant, and also check coolant for signs of oil. if both ok, then top up coolant with the OAT stuff and replace cap for a new one! If coolanty still appears to drop after this, advise taking to garage to identify where coolant is leaking!

**daved** 17/9/2008, 9:01 pm

PaulMGTF160 wrote:Could be something as simple as the cap! Shouldnt really just evaporate off as it is a pressurised system, if you are getting evaoporation then the cap is faulty, I'd check your oild for signs of coolant, and also check coolant for signs of oil. if both ok, then top up coolant with the OAT stuff and replace cap for a new one! If coolanty still appears to drop after this, advise taking to garage to identify where coolant is leaking!

I agree with everything Paul said. I have "evaporating" coolant and believe I have a weak radiator!

**Captain Jack** 18/9/2008, 4:58 am

Well checked the coolant cap, no warping and no oily film. checked the oil cap and dipstick no gunk

Checked under the car this morning and just before i finished work, no puddles no traces of anything.

Like i said the rubber arm holding the air filter had slipped yesterday, so thinking maybe running slightly hotter than it should, and used some more coolant to well...............cool!?!

All temp levels are present and correct also.

**Dark Knight** 18/9/2008, 5:25 am

marcus mgf wrote:Well checked the coolant cap, no warping and no oily film. checked the oil cap and dipstick no gunk

Checked under the car this morning and just before i finished work, no puddles no traces of anything.

Like i said the rubber arm holding the air filter had slipped yesterday, so thinking maybe running slightly hotter than it should, and used some more coolant to well...............cool!?!

All temp levels are present and correct also.

Is the centre pressure release on the cap sitting centrally?

**Stiff** 24/9/2008, 8:23 pm

Since I bought my Focus I've topped mine up once. So that's once since May.
In my TF I was doing it on a weekly basis. I always thought it was normal for a TF. Legendary MG build quality.

I know Dee topped hers up on a weekly basis too. And some other F/TF owners.

**dressur** 24/9/2008, 8:30 pm

I had got out of the habit of neurotically checking it every time I opened the boot, but now I've got a leaky pipe, I check it daily!

And yes - it is booked in to have the pipes done!

**daved** 24/9/2008, 8:43 pm

I needed to top mine up this morning. Second time since buying the car.

Question, after the car had been sitting all night, when I took the cap off pressure was released and coolant entered the expansion tank to bring the level up to just belwo half way. Is this correct?

**Nick** 24/9/2008, 8:44 pm

Not had to top mine up in 2 years! Mind you thats probably only about 3 thousand miles, and the coolant will need replacing soon as it's getting old.

**Dark Knight** 24/9/2008, 8:54 pm

how do you know when its getting old?

**Nick** 24/9/2008, 9:39 pm

The pink OAT has a life of 5 years apparently and my green normal stuff lasts 2 years according to MG.
I'm never sure how much of a 'scam' it is ie is it just to increase the billing at service time, so I'll let mine run till next year.
I just hate the idea of getting it done as it's such a nightmare and I dont want to run the risk of airlocks etc, Apparently the antifreeze and rust inhibititing properties degrade over time not usage.

**Dark Knight** 24/9/2008, 10:09 pm

Nick wrote:The pink OAT has a life of 5 years apparently and my green normal stuff lasts 2 years according to MG.
I'm never sure how much of a 'scam' it is ie is it just to increase the billing at service time, so I'll let mine run till next year.
I just hate the idea of getting it done as it's such a nightmare and I dont want to run the risk of airlocks etc, Apparently the antifreeze and rust inhibititing properties degrade over time not usage.

thanks Nick! Great bit off info there!!

**Rich** 24/9/2008, 10:12 pm

I always have mine done by the garage as they pressure fill it. The last time they did it, it showed up the very minor leak on the underfloor pipes so I had them replaced straight away. Even if I'd have done it myself using the correct bleed routine, etc., I probably wouldn't have noticed the leak until it decided to go big time and leave me with no coolant and possible damage from a dry engine, so it was worth the expense of getting it done properly. Oh, and I've got OAT in mine too...

Rich

**Dark Knight** 24/9/2008, 10:14 pm

You use CLifton Lane then Rich? How much do they charge for the pressurized fill?

**Rich** 24/9/2008, 10:17 pm

Can't remember how much it was... It was last year and done when I had loads of other stuff done. Shouldn't be that expensive though as it's quicker than doing it without pressurising... I'll have a word with Martin at Clifton-Lane and see how much he charges these days.

Rich

**Dark Knight** 24/9/2008, 10:20 pm

Cheers Rich, would be handy fro Nick but also so i can compare prices for here in Oxford too. I now know where Simon get his work done so can compare with there

Paul

**dressur** 25/9/2008, 12:46 am

PaulMGTF160 wrote:how do you know when its getting old?

It starts sprouting hair in strange places, gets grumpy in the morning, and surreptitiously shops online for Viagra

**Dark Knight** 25/9/2008, 12:51 am

dressur wrote:
PaulMGTF160 wrote:how do you know when its getting old?

It starts sprouting hair in strange places, gets grumpy in the morning, and surreptitiously shops online for Viagra

Well that explains the remarkable stamina my cars got at the min!!! Laughing

**Da!sh!** 25/9/2008, 3:12 am

personaly i would say if anything it proably would be seeping past the header tank cap, these caps are not just a normal cap they also act as a pressure relife valve if i remeber correctly (i know trucks use them and from what iv been told there on cars to) , as you havent looked at the coolant level since Jan it proably will have droped, 1 cm of coolant in 10 months is proably nothing worry about. If you start find that you are haveing to top it up more regualy then thats when you need to start worring.

Also was the engine hot when you noticed the coolant level?

James

**daved** 25/9/2008, 5:14 am

daved wrote:I needed to top mine up this morning. Second time since buying the car.

Question, after the car had been sitting all night, when I took the cap off pressure was released and coolant entered the expansion tank to bring the level up to just below half way. Is this correct?

You know that Marcus and I got into trouble for posting techie questions and comments on .org and now you all know why. Pertinent and sensible questions get overlooked for comments about Viagra!! Laughing

Right, I'm off to .org.

**Rich** 25/9/2008, 6:12 am

Might have to split this thread... Banter goes in banter section!

Rich

**Seb** 25/9/2008, 7:11 pm

PaulMGTF160 wrote:Cheers Rich, would be handy fro Nick but also so i can compare prices for here in Oxford too. I now know where Simon get his work done so can compare with there

Paul

Paul - I had mine pressure filled by clifton lane last year and from memory it cost about £40 (that obviously includes the coolant and labour)

I would definately advise getting it done at a garage and not DIY as i tried to bleed mine after i replaced the centre pipes and I ended up chucking my spanners out the pram and towing the car to Clifton Lane!!! Sad

**Dark Knight** 25/9/2008, 7:28 pm

Seb wrote:
PaulMGTF160 wrote:Cheers Rich, would be handy fro Nick but also so i can compare prices for here in Oxford too. I now know where Simon get his work done so can compare with there

Paul

Paul - I had mine pressure filled by clifton lane last year and from memory it cost about £40 (that obviously includes the coolant and labour)

I would definately advise getting it done at a garage and not DIY as i tried to bleed mine after i replaced the centre pipes and I ended up chucking my spanners out the pram and towing the car to Clifton Lane!!!

Thanks Seb!

**daved** 25/9/2008, 7:50 pm

Just dropped mine off at CL this morning to have the very same job done. I'll report back this evening.

Cheers

Dave

**Rich** 25/9/2008, 7:50 pm

Seb wrote:Paul - I had mine pressure filled by clifton lane last year and from memory it cost about £40 (that obviously includes the coolant and labour)

Thanks Seb, saved me phoning them for a quote!

Rich

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