Coolant Leak?

[greg s]

I got my 54 plate Avensis 2.0 back from the local Toyota garage on monday after a fuel pipe recall, and the told me the coolant was empty so they topped it back up, but couldn't see a leak anywhere. The level has not gone down much since monday, but it's lost a little out of the expansion tank. The rad is full to the top.

Is it possible that it's leaking through the head gasket?

[t-spiritpete]

I got my 54 plate Avensis 2.0 back from the local Toyota garage on monday after a fuel pipe recall, and the told me the coolant was empty so they topped it back up, but couldn't see a leak anywhere. The level has not gone down much since monday, but it's lost a little out of the expansion tank. The rad is full to the top.

Is it possible that it's leaking through the head gasket?

Hi Greg, top it up one more time and monitor the level each day before you start to worry to much, if it keeps dropping then further investigation will be warranted.

Regards .... Pete.

[t-spiritpete]

I got my 54 plate Avensis 2.0 back from the local Toyota garage on monday after a fuel pipe recall, and the told me the coolant was empty so they topped it back up, but couldn't see a leak anywhere. The level has not gone down much since monday, but it's lost a little out of the expansion tank. The rad is full to the top.

Is it possible that it's leaking through the head gasket?

Hi Greg, top it up one more time and monitor the level each day before you start to worry to much, if it keeps dropping then further investigation will be warranted.

Regards .... Pete.

Some how I replied twice ....sorry folks ... Pete.

[Rumbly]

If you are worried about the head gasket have a sniffer test done. A small amount of coolant from the car is mixed with a chemical, if combution products are present in the coolant it changes colour and the gasket is definitely shot, if it doesn't change colour the gasket is very probably fine. Can save a whole big load of grief and expense, any garage worth their salt will have the equipment, if they don't go somewhere else, and it should cost very little.

DO NOT have water pumps, radiators, hoses etc changed unless very obviously leaking without having a sniffer test done first. I've seen people spent mucho £££££'s before it was ever discovered to be the head gasket to be at fault.