Coolant 'dumping'

I have a UK 2000 318Ci with 34k miles on the clock. Last weekend I took it
out the garage to wash, and noticed a pool of coolant mix on the floor under
where the front of the car had been.

Took it to the franchised dealer and an examination revealed a leaking
thermostat, or housing, or something like that. Had to take it back 2 days
later as they didn't have the part, but got the work done yesterday.

This morning when I took the car out the garage I noticed another pool on
the floor ((((

So the car will go back to the dealer to see what they say this time.

Anyone any suggestions as to what may be happening? The coolant isn't
emptying as there was still plenty in the system this morning, and I had no
repeat of this between the day I noticed it and the day it was 'fixed', so
I'd guess that rules out a permanent leak? It seems to dump a few hundred
CCs, but that's all; where's it coming from, any suggestions?

And by thw way, twice the dealer asked me "oh you haven't been using the air
conditioning have you?" - what's that all about?

TIA
tim

"tim" > wrote
> And by thw way, twice the dealer asked me "oh you haven't been using the
> air conditioning have you?" - what's that all about?

The A/C dehumidifies the air, and the condensed water runs out through
a drain onto the road, or garage floor when parked.

Floyd

Check for a/f dumping from thr overflow bottle.

C/C frequently spills water when the conditioner has been working and the
car is parked.

Sailor

> The A/C dehumidifies the air, and the condensed water runs out through
> a drain onto the road, or garage floor when parked.

So it uses the same coolant as is used to cool the engine, and you'd expect
the coolant level in the header tank to go down as a result?
tim

"tim" > wrote
>> The A/C dehumidifies the air, and the condensed water runs out through
>> a drain onto the road, or garage floor when parked.
>
> So it uses the same coolant as is used to cool the engine, and you'd
> expect the coolant level in the header tank to go down as a result?

Uhh, no. The moisture that it removes from the cabin air is dumped
on the ground.

Floyd

If it's just water, it's AC condensate, hence the question.

If it's colored the same color as your antifreeze, it's antifreeze. You can
also sniff or (shudder) taste it to see if it's water or coolant.

AC condensate is no problem (assuming you've been running the AC. Antifreeze
loss is a problem.


George Litwinski
"tim" > wrote in message
...
> I have a UK 2000 318Ci with 34k miles on the clock. Last weekend I took it
> out the garage to wash, and noticed a pool of coolant mix on the floor
under
> where the front of the car had been.
>
> Took it to the franchised dealer and an examination revealed a leaking
> thermostat, or housing, or something like that. Had to take it back 2 days
> later as they didn't have the part, but got the work done yesterday.
>
> This morning when I took the car out the garage I noticed another pool on
> the floor ((((
>
> So the car will go back to the dealer to see what they say this time.
>
> Anyone any suggestions as to what may be happening? The coolant isn't
> emptying as there was still plenty in the system this morning, and I had
no
> repeat of this between the day I noticed it and the day it was 'fixed', so
> I'd guess that rules out a permanent leak? It seems to dump a few hundred
> CCs, but that's all; where's it coming from, any suggestions?
>
> And by thw way, twice the dealer asked me "oh you haven't been using the
air
> conditioning have you?" - what's that all about?
>
> TIA
> tim
>
>

> AC condensate is no problem (assuming you've been running the AC.
> Antifreeze
> loss is a problem.

I't antifreeze alright, as it coloured the newspaper I had layed on the
floor greenish/blue, and I can smell it.

I drove the car yesterday and had the air con on as it was raining (helps
demist), but there was no puddle in the morning that time. So it appears to
be completey random as to when it dumps (maybe now it has dumped once it
won't again until the level is topped up). So any ideas as to what may be
happening?

TIA
tim

Well, you can lose antifreeze if your overflow tank is overfull. make sure
the level is not above the fill line with a cold engine.

Beyond that, you have a leak. Lots of places to leak. A hose, a hose
connection, and out the weep hole of your water pump (means pump is "going
south") are probably most likely. If you have access to ramps or jack
stands, take a look from underneath after the park the car. Should not be
rocket science to find the source.

You DO want to get this fixed.


George Litwinski
"tim" > wrote in message
...
>
> > AC condensate is no problem (assuming you've been running the AC.
> > Antifreeze
> > loss is a problem.
>
> I't antifreeze alright, as it coloured the newspaper I had layed on the
> floor greenish/blue, and I can smell it.
>
> I drove the car yesterday and had the air con on as it was raining (helps
> demist), but there was no puddle in the morning that time. So it appears
to
> be completey random as to when it dumps (maybe now it has dumped once it
> won't again until the level is topped up). So any ideas as to what may be
> happening?
>
> TIA
> tim
>
>

> Beyond that, you have a leak. Lots of places to leak. A hose, a hose
> connection, and out the weep hole of your water pump (means pump is "going
> south") are probably most likely. If you have access to ramps or jack
> stands, take a look from underneath after the park the car. Should not be
> rocket science to find the source.
>
> You DO want to get this fixed.

As per my original post, I've had it looked at by a dealer, who found a
supposed leak and 'fixed' it, but it dumped again the morning after, so it
is going back on monday. If I had a leak though, surely it would be
'leaking' all the time, not just occasionally; it has only dumped twice in a
week, no more.
tim

On Sun, 31 Oct 2004 00:29:33 +0100, tim wrote:

>
>> Beyond that, you have a leak. Lots of places to leak. A hose, a hose
>> connection, and out the weep hole of your water pump (means pump is
>> "going south") are probably most likely. If you have access to ramps or
>> jack stands, take a look from underneath after the park the car. Should
>> not be rocket science to find the source.
>>
>> You DO want to get this fixed.
>
> As per my original post, I've had it looked at by a dealer, who found a
> supposed leak and 'fixed' it, but it dumped again the morning after, so it
> is going back on monday. If I had a leak though, surely it would be
> 'leaking' all the time, not just occasionally; it has only dumped twice in
> a week, no more.
>

I'd say you need to take it back to the dealer as they haven't yet found
the cause. But you can do a bit of diagnostics on your own before it goes
back to the dealer. Since the leak out is intermittant and there's no
obvious source at this point I'd want to know if the coolant is coming
from the overflow. That would be caused by a bad cap, or (on the darker
side) a small head gasket leak. To see if that's the case you need to mark
the overflow with something that a flow of coolant will disturb, like
chalk. Then the next time you see evidence of a leak or a lower than
normal coolant level check the tell tale on the overflow.

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