Slight coolant loss ( Is it normal)

johnnyb44 · 25th May 2015, 18:03

Hi to.
After owning several k series in the past its now in built into my weekly checks to keep an eye on coolant levels. Nearly all of my past cars needed topping up slightly every few months but my present diesel 75 has never needed topping up for the last eighteen months. Today though I went through all the usual " belts and braces " checks that in compelled to do " call me Mr OCD !! if you want " and I noticed the coolant has dropped very slightly under the Max line, I'm talking a couple of mm here so it' literally neither here or there. If it was one of my previous cars I wouldn't of batted an eye lid but this does seen to be uncharacteristic of my 75. Do cars naturally lose coolant through evaporation over time or could it be something a little more sinister going on. I only ask as it's completely out of character but then again its only a miniscule amount..
Many thanks for reading and advice given too
Johnny

ProfDave · 25th May 2015, 18:06

get some new O rings for your cap and keep an eye

do not get paranoid just vigilent!

johnnyb44 · 25th May 2015, 18:13

Thanks ProfDave.
I'll certainly take your advice and get some O rings for the cap. Do you know who sells them buddy..

steveharvey2001 · 25th May 2015, 18:17

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rover-75-M...-/131510546919

kaiser · 25th May 2015, 18:29

Water in a cooling system does not evaporate.
Any drop in the level is caused by a leak.

Most losses start slow and then develop from there. You have just caught it early, and well done for that!

If not the cap, then T-piece, water pump, radiator or any random leak. Plus the leaks to the inside, which would also give you mayonnaise under the oil filler cap.

Keep an eye on it and just top up as required.

spyder · 25th May 2015, 18:30

I would get a torch and check the thermostat. The o-ring on that perishes and results in coolant loss. A 25p part that take 3 hours to change.
If it is that, replace the thermostat at the same time.

Craig.

ProfDave · 25th May 2015, 18:58

mine was the cap............ new O rigs from Ebay in the link above no more coolant loss. £3 done..

johnnyb44 · 25th May 2015, 19:50

Thank you all for all your help and advice. Evaporation is definitely out of the question now so a close visual watch of the coolant is now the order of the day. I will tackle the easy and cheap fixes first an see what happens. Hopefully I will nip this in the bud before anything to serious happens.
Very much appreciate you all
Johnny

25th May 2015, 18:03	#1
johnnyb44 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: north wales Posts: 2,721 Thanks: 1,774 Thanked 902 Times in 507 Posts	Slight coolant loss ( Is it normal) Hi to. After owning several k series in the past its now in built into my weekly checks to keep an eye on coolant levels. Nearly all of my past cars needed topping up slightly every few months but my present diesel 75 has never needed topping up for the last eighteen months. Today though I went through all the usual " belts and braces " checks that in compelled to do " call me Mr OCD !! if you want " and I noticed the coolant has dropped very slightly under the Max line, I'm talking a couple of mm here so it' literally neither here or there. If it was one of my previous cars I wouldn't of batted an eye lid but this does seen to be uncharacteristic of my 75. Do cars naturally lose coolant through evaporation over time or could it be something a little more sinister going on. I only ask as it's completely out of character but then again its only a miniscule amount.. Many thanks for reading and advice given too Johnny __________________ Replaced pcv filter, springs, plenum spy hole mod,Bonnet cable divider mod. Wax oiled.Air con recharged. Auto box oil changed , Jules plenum guard fitted .Smoked wind deflectors fitted.S/S Compensator.Club Grill Badge kindly donated by Andyg2011..

25th May 2015, 18:13	#3
johnnyb44 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: north wales Posts: 2,721 Thanks: 1,774 Thanked 902 Times in 507 Posts	Thanks ProfDave. I'll certainly take your advice and get some O rings for the cap. Do you know who sells them buddy.. __________________ Replaced pcv filter, springs, plenum spy hole mod,Bonnet cable divider mod. Wax oiled.Air con recharged. Auto box oil changed , Jules plenum guard fitted .Smoked wind deflectors fitted.S/S Compensator.Club Grill Badge kindly donated by Andyg2011..

25th May 2015, 18:17	#4
steveharvey2001 Loves to post Mini Cooper SE Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worcester Posts: 369 Thanks: 39 Thanked 40 Times in 32 Posts	http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rover-75-M...-/131510546919 __________________ "How can one little insulated wire bring so much happiness?!" Homer J Simpson

25th May 2015, 18:29	#5
kaiser This is my second home 75 Tourer 2.5 Auto, 1.8T, 75V8ZT Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Johannesburg ZA Posts: 6,200 Thanks: 1 Thanked 859 Times in 613 Posts	Water in a cooling system does not evaporate. Any drop in the level is caused by a leak. Most losses start slow and then develop from there. You have just caught it early, and well done for that! If not the cap, then T-piece, water pump, radiator or any random leak. Plus the leaks to the inside, which would also give you mayonnaise under the oil filler cap. Keep an eye on it and just top up as required. Last edited by kaiser; 25th May 2015 at 18:36..

25th May 2015, 18:30	#6
spyder This is my second home 75 CDT Auto Tourer , Rover 45 , Astra, Zaffira, Chev Captiva Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Wilts Posts: 3,342 Thanks: 203 Thanked 436 Times in 360 Posts	I would get a torch and check the thermostat. The o-ring on that perishes and results in coolant loss. A 25p part that take 3 hours to change. If it is that, replace the thermostat at the same time. Craig. __________________ Chrome skull caps, EGR cleaned (original housing), Mondeo lower mounting, 12V outlets in the armrest and tourer boot, cat fixed, working FBH, Lidl plenum covers, DD with reverse camera.New speakesr/Tweeters with MDF rings. wood dash, Memory leather seats, wooden finished steering and handbrake, Xenon headlights.

25th May 2015, 18:06	#2
ProfDave This is my second home ZTT, Contemp Saloon, Duotone Tourer Join Date: May 2012 Location: Llandeilo Posts: 4,192 Thanks: 290 Thanked 387 Times in 333 Posts	get some new O rings for your cap and keep an eye do not get paranoid just vigilent!

25th May 2015, 18:58	#7
ProfDave This is my second home ZTT, Contemp Saloon, Duotone Tourer Join Date: May 2012 Location: Llandeilo Posts: 4,192 Thanks: 290 Thanked 387 Times in 333 Posts	mine was the cap............ new O rigs from Ebay in the link above no more coolant loss. £3 done..

25th May 2015, 19:50	#8
johnnyb44 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: north wales Posts: 2,721 Thanks: 1,774 Thanked 902 Times in 507 Posts	Thank you all for all your help and advice. Evaporation is definitely out of the question now so a close visual watch of the coolant is now the order of the day. I will tackle the easy and cheap fixes first an see what happens. Hopefully I will nip this in the bud before anything to serious happens. Very much appreciate you all Johnny __________________ Replaced pcv filter, springs, plenum spy hole mod,Bonnet cable divider mod. Wax oiled.Air con recharged. Auto box oil changed , Jules plenum guard fitted .Smoked wind deflectors fitted.S/S Compensator.Club Grill Badge kindly donated by Andyg2011..