Coolant Loss 2.3 Petrol

[Tim_021113]

This is my first post on the forum, so hello to everyone.

 

I have a 2002 Galaxy 2.3 Zetec with 100k miles on the clock. I have owned it for about two months.

 

It drives really well and there's no sign of any problems anywhere, but for one big but.  The coolant expansion tank seems to be loosing half its contents about every 500 miles, which clearly is worrying. 

I had a Zafira a few years ago which did exactly the same thing about six months before the head gasket went.

 

So..any suggestions please as to whether this is likely to be the same issue and if there's any tests a garage can do to establish what's going on.

 

Thanks

 

Tim

 

 

[sparky Paul]

Welcome to the forum! B)

 

Does the coolant level tend to stabilise around the min mark? This is nothing to worry about.

 

...or does it continue to disappear at the same rate?

 

If it does, the coolant may be lost from a number of places, some of them not easy to detect if it's only a small leak. A garage can test the coolant for the presence of combustion gases, which would indicate headgasket. You may also smell combustion gases in the expansion bottle.

 

Headgasket failure is not common on these engines. More likely candidates for leaks are radiator, the dummy (empty) thermostat housing on the end of the cylinder head, one of the two heater matrixes, or the pipework to the rear matrix. Have a good look for any white staining or rusty spots. If you get the engine and radiator hot on a dark evening, have a poke around with a small torch and look out for any wisps of steam. Pay particular attention to the areas mentioned above.

 

If you have any trouble demisting, that may point to a weeping front heater matrix.

[gregers]

welcome to the forum,ex zaffy boy. :lol:

[viperclive]

I have a similar problem and I found that bottom nearside of rad has a small leak with rust patch! Gave her some radseal but still loose about 250mill each month, been like it for years. Must change it one day!

[Tim_021113]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, much appreciated.  I'll get out there with a torch and see what I can find. 

[Tim_021113]

Update...my local mechanic has replaced a cracked 'water housing', which is located near the gearbox apparently.  I think it has reduced the coolant loss a bit, but not by much. 

 

Not sure if I am making a false connection here, but I have noticed the interior mists up very easily, especially quite soon after the car is parked.  The carpets are not wet anywhere, but I am wondering if a heater matrix might be leaking.  Would that put a lot of moisture into the interior as well as losing coolant?

[leeroy123]

Had same problem on mine carpets not wet but had coolant dripping from footwell air vents and if your windows mist up when front heater on full its possible front heater matrix is leaking ....

[Tim_021113]

Thanks leeroy123

Any idea how easy/difficult it is to reach to heater matrix?  I know on some cars it's necessary to remove most of the dash to do it.

Also, if there is a 'front' matrix, does that mean there is more than one?

[sparky Paul]

Yes, there's one at the back for the rear heater, above the rear nearside wheelarch. The pipework that goes to it is under the vehicle and is vulnerable to damage/corrosion.

 

The Galaxy is not the best when it comes to demisting, but excessive problems can sometimes be traced to the pipe to the rear wash wipe leaking from a joint in the passenger front door sill. A weeping front matrix usually makes it difficult to demist with heat, accompanied by the whiff of coolant.

 

IIRC the front heater matrix is a major dash out job on the mk.2. I'm sure someone has done it on here though, so it might be worth rooting the thread out if you suspect that's the problem.

 

Do you have any coolant marks on the under-bonnet insulation, above the header tank?

[SilverBeast]

Details here, though I think I've seen one with pictures somewhere

[ska123]

Hi Have you checked your actual thermostat housing (brass one), in line with rad hoses. These develop cracks weep coolant down the hose.