just recently my car has been running very high (temperature) i've had the radiator replaced cus there was a slight crack in it thats all fine now? but it drinks water like mad it uses bout a litre a day is this normal?? if not what should i do??? please help got no money so cheap ideas very welcome................. thanks Dan
2006-09-19 04:44:40 · 26 answers · asked by Daniel J 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Other - Car Makes
Definitely not normal have you tried your rad pressure cap is working correctly?If this leaks pressure the engine coolant will boil at a lower temp than it was designed for.Replacing your rad cap is quite inexpensive.regards mick.
2006-09-19 07:11:08 · answer #1 · answered by mick 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have to keep adding water to it , you are loosing it somewhere OR the engine has a head gasket problem which the motor is comsuming it. If you had a radiator replaced there are a few reasons for that to happen:
Does the vehicle run rough? Is the vehicle still over heating?
Did you install the radiator yourself or a repair facility?
Was the coolant system purged of air, to allow max coolant in the system?Some vehicles require a procedure to remove unwanted air to allow max cooling.
I would start off by removing the plugs if you are working on a vehichle that allows you to acces them. Remove them one at a time and check to see IF there is signs of water on them. Mark them so you know what cylinder they came from. IF 2 plugs are wet next to each other the cause is a blown head gasket.
Good Luck...
2006-09-19 04:56:25 · answer #2 · answered by CAR GUY 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It maybe be a connection from the radiator to the engine, gotta check that. Do as much as you can before spending any money though, those car guys can rip you off. My 91 civic did the same thing, every morning I would walk down and before I would start my car I would load that baby up with a milk carton full or water. I still haven't found the problem out yet but let me know when you've found yours. It's just sitting in the driveway
2006-09-19 04:52:47 · answer #3 · answered by Bill 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let the car cool down like overnight. Fill up the radiator and start the engine and let it heat up. look on the ground under the car for water drops. This should give you a clue as to the area on the engine you need to look at for a leak (sorry!).
If no water comes out then but only when you drive along it is almost certainly the head gasket.
Take out the plugs and look at them. If there are differences in appearance it is a clue as to which cylinders are in trouble.
Get the compression tested. If one cylinder is low it is most likely that gasket again!
RoyS
2006-09-21 19:53:10 · answer #4 · answered by Roy S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get your system pressure tested before you do anything, it's the cheapest start to a fix. If your system has a leak it will show up.
Check all your hoses including your heater hoses, any water comming inside the car cabin ? then it could be heater hose or the small heater rad gone. Also check oil filler cap for a milky coloured oil on cap, and check presssure caps. Is your expansion bottle cracked? You can have a garage put a special dye into engine which will show up any probs. Sorry got to go to hospital now, good luck Jimmy
2006-09-19 21:33:03 · answer #5 · answered by DIAMOND_GEEZER_56 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is not normal. Possible causes:
Crack in engine block (real bad)
Radiator hose leaking (not real bad)
Water pump leaking (costs a little bit to fix)
Thermostat bad causing overheating.
Are you sure you are not looking at the difference between the overflow tank HOT versus COLD the next morning? There will be a natural shrinkage of about a litre. Maybe you are OK?
If not have it looked at NOW before winter if you are in a cold climate.
2006-09-19 04:48:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want to fix a small leak cheaply buy a tin of "Radweld" from a car accessorry shop and add it to the radiator as per the instructions on the tin. It is important to have the cooling system warm and running or the "Radweld" will block the radiator and you'll need a new one.
Good Luck with your repair, Dan!!
2006-09-19 05:01:33 · answer #7 · answered by machiavelli 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
make sure you not over filling the radiator with to much water .water expands when hot .this will increase the preasure in the radiator and open the pressure cap forcing water to escape .so when you check the level again its low...if the head gasket gone check to see if any water comming from the exhaust .you need a pressure check on the engine this will find leaks and tell you if your engine damaged.....
2006-09-21 08:30:49 · answer #8 · answered by battleleader12 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check where it's coming from. you may just have a split pipe. If it looks like it's coming from the engine stick some block seal in as long as it's not a Rover. Make sure you use BLOCK SEAL not Rad-weld, this could buy it 6 months life. Enough time to sell it on to someone else and let them deal with it.
2006-09-19 11:57:04 · answer #9 · answered by Bealzebub 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check the oil. If there is water in the oil, you have a cracked block and are in deep trouble. If not, try removing the thermostat. Sometimes they stick and cause cars to run hot.
2006-09-19 04:53:21 · answer #10 · answered by Homer H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds as though you could have a faulty radiator...first go back to the garage that fitted it or where you bought it from if ya did it yaself and get it checked out, if there is nothing wrong with it, check your hoses to and from the rad as you could well find one has perished, they are quite cheap to replace and provided the hoses are easy to get at you could do it yourself.....hope this helps. DON'T PUT ANY LEAK SEALER IN RAD UNTIL you have had it checked, otherwise you will void any warranty on it
2006-09-19 04:52:08 · answer #11 · answered by Denise W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋