Coolant Leak - suggested next steps?

[Gwest44]

Instead of going out in the coupe today I took the family wagon in order to accommodate the multiple children and dogs.

However in order to facilitate this trip I had to shuffle the car's around which meant moving the coupe off one drive and on to other.

When I got out I noticed a trail of what I initially thought was water from moving off one drive and reversing on to the other. However when we returned home it was still there and hadn't dried.



So the first thing I checked was the oil level - but all seemed good.



Next I checked the coolant level - definitely down on when I'd checked it last time



But no coolant light so I thought I'd take it to the end of the road and back - as expected just before I got to reverse it back on the drive the coolant light was on



So that finally brings me to my question - having had no previous issues what could have caused the car to drop the coolant like that and is there anything I can check from a DIY perspective before getting it down to my trusty mechanic

 

[enuff_zed]

Expansion tank split is the favourite. Have a look down from the top and see if there is fluid below the tank on the undertray.

 

[Gwest44]

Expansion tank split is the favourite. Have a look down from the top and see if there is fluid below the tank on the undertray.

Thanks - I'll take a look tomorrow when the lights back

 

[bigwinn]

I’d say expansion tank to Garrie

I haven’t forgotten about your suspension…

Let me know if you need a hand with the tank if that’s what it is

 

[alane29]

1. expansion tank
2. thermostat

from experience both have gone on mine

 

[j3nks79]

You can pressurise the system and it will expose the leak. Kits available on eBay or a good garage will have one.

 

[alane29]

You can pressurise the system and it will expose the leak. Kits available on eBay or a good garage will have one.

the expansion tank leak was easy to find, the thermostat leak i needed to pressurise the system

 

[Gwest44]

Finally got the coupe in with my independent yesterday - he's a very busy boy that lad

Anyway he's diagnosed the issue as a split expansion tank - the replacement is due in Monday so hopefully it'll be back on the road early next week.

Thanks for all the responses - as my wife would say "it's not very often I'm wrong but I'm right again"