C5 Coolant Loss

Apr 18, 2007 28 Replies

If you must add a 'stop leak' type product then use either a "Bars" or "Wynn's" products - these both work in a similar way to each other (but totally different to how Radweld works) by only solidifying were they find an actual leak. In fact Wynn's (an American company) do some very good additives etc.

Certainly a pin hole leak in the rad, or even hose, does make sense - as TonyB says, whilst the cooling system is under pressure it will leak, as the water cools it will draw in air but being such a small hole it might not be very obvious.

I'll be very interested to hear what the final problem turns out to be - clearly if it's under warranty then let them sort it. Jerry and I clearly differ on Radweld, I have used it before and never had any problems, if it is as bad as is suggested I think it would have been sued off the market by now. However, we'll agree to disagree. Keep us posted! TonyB

It would be very difficult to the end user to prove that they used the product properly and by definition, if you haven't got the money to cure the coolant leak properly and thus use something like Radweld you aren't going to have the money to start the legal ball rolling either - especially if you've also just had to find the money for a new engine or car having just had the old engine expire due to a blocked cooling system!...

:Jerry: ( snipped-for-privacy@INVALID.INVALID) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

It ain't often that I'll agree with Jerry, but I'm with him on this one.

RadWeld or similar ain't something you'll ever catch me using, except as a bodge.

The other possibility is that the leak might be in the heater matrix and the leaking coolant is either building up within the heater box assembly or draining via the plenum chamber drain (the drain intended for rain water that has entered via the air intake grill). Is there ant hint of a slight 'acrid' smell if the heater is set to blow hot air?

Er, when I had a matrix leak in my Discovery a while ago the Radweld cured it. I had the matrix changed and the system flushed, no problems so far. TonyB

[ in reply to someone, probably "JP", whose original message didn't show up ]

No idea, not knowing what cats pee smells like, but if you don't own a cat and your not a vet no car interior should smell of cats pee IMO!

Eh no. ......

Cat pee? Who mentioned cat pee?

I think I might have noticed that one. Stiil I'll tune the old olfactory gland in when I get the car back this time.

JP

As a conclusion (I hope) for anyone still watching.

The car is running normally now with no coolant loss. The dealer fixed it. They don't let you near the, "technicians" so no-one at the front desk could say what was done to fix it. Looking around the engine compartment, I suspect it is the header tank itself that has been replaced.

They did also manage to lose the 18" square plastic engine cover and a pair of swimming googles left in the back of the car - workshop horse play eh?

They can keep the goggles.

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