Radiator Water/coolant Escaping... Somehow?

[Xorh]

Ive had my gen 5 st182 for over a year now, and it’s a heavy coolant drinker... I try to top up the radiator every week, and it takes at least a kettle full at a time, (their is no proper anti-freeze left as its been diluted away, I know I should use expensive coolants, but tap is all its getting for the moment)

There is no gunk in the oil, and when parked no puddles or drips appear, so it must be losing water when running?. I fill up the reservoir too.

My question is does these symptoms’ look like the radiator cap pressure valve may be degraded, and leaking at normal temps?

And if its not the cap, what else can I be doing or looking at to help the water leaking, except replacing the radiator and pipes?

[fiz-vvti]

hiya mate, my old st185 had a cracked head, fried gasket... the works..lost plenty of water through as vapour.

even after repairs...on long journeys or a thrash around it'll over heat and lose the water through steam.

i've also had a recent problem with my vvti 140.... over heating even when the cars was cold.....the thermostat was nackered..... i think the easier/cheapest opetion you have is to replace the thermostat 1st, if its not the thermostat....u could be in for some problems.

remove the thermostat, let the car run (take it for a spin, if it doesnt over heat...u know what it is

good luck bud

[celica140sport]

i have a similar problem with my 140 it theres been no coolant in my expantion tank for 2 months now, it never overheats heaters work fine. but whenever i top it up after a little drive all gone. so ive just left it empty and had no problems. theres no signs of leaks anywhere either

[Kenyamike]

i have a similar problem with my 140 it theres been no coolant in my expantion tank for 2 months now, it never overheats heaters work fine. but whenever i top it up after a little drive all gone. so ive just left it empty and had no problems. theres no signs of leaks anywhere either

Hi, I had a similar problem with my ST183,

It turned out to be a miniscule hole in the rad itself which appeared direcctly in front of the exhaust manifold/downpipe. The water didn't leak (and then very, very slowly as a very fine jet) until the engine came up to temperature and the system pressurised itself, by which time the exhaust was nearly glowing of course. The escaping water hit the exhaust at high speed and was instantly vapourised so was nearly invisible under normal running circumstances. Took me and a menage of mechanic ages to discover the problem and a change of Rad instantly of course solved it. :D Mine is in a convertible 1991 auto and these very specific rads are only available at the normal Toy*** premium, through Toy*** themselves, contrary to what the local and national factors tell you, unfortunately. :(

Hope this helps. B)

I really wouldn't advise anyone to leave their expansion tank empty, 'cos a new engine, or even a second hand one or a head and the resulting work, is a large lump of dosh and that is usually the next step. Sometimes engines don't register as overheating when coolant drops below the sensors either, don't rely on your luck!!!!!!!!!!!! :censor:

Mike

[celica140sport]

well i filled it up now if it goes down again think it will have a trip to the garage. sounds like its going to be fun and games finding a leak thou