Coolant smoke from under the bonnet! Help!

C

cky3001

New member
Hi guys,

First time poster so any help much appreciated.

Got a 55 plate 2.0i Zed with a bit of a problem.

Been digging around the forum all day yesterday, fantastic amount of info on here, but wouldn't mind a second opinion...

Had a fairly heavy cloud of sweet/sickly white steam escape from under the bonnet the other day when I stopped, followed by the low coolant light come on. It was coming up from around the right hand side of the engine block (when viewed from the drivers seat). Couldn't spot any leaks so I topped it up with decent coolant and some Radweld and all seemed to be going ok for now. Then yesterday same thing happens again and the coolant level, which I'd been checking regularly, just vanished. This time I managed to see that directly under the engine itself on the floor plate is all the coolant, and this dripping onto a hot area (assuming its part of the exhaust) is causing the steam. I'm immediately assuming the worst in that its the head gasket!! - Especially since I got a cloud of steam again when I over revved the engine (momentary lapse of concentration.)

I'm a bit confused though, as the engine temp has never risen or overheated and the needle stays bang in the middle. Plus the engine doesn't rattle or feel unusually under powered and feels to be running normally. Then after much searching through here, I've checked the expansion cap and the oil cap, and absolutely no mayo at all. Could it be something as simple as a leaking O ring or pipe somewhere even though its coming from under the engine??

Obviously looking today at getting it booked in somewhere asap to get looked at, so any recommendations on decent independents in north london area much appreciated. (I've used Lodge Garage in the past).

Thanks in advance.
 
Cracked expansion tank would be my guess? + 1

I had mine go and only lost the coolant after the car got warm, ( the pressure finds the leak when the temperature hits running temp.) BMW eom part expensive but that's what I had fitted.
 
I agree with the guys. We've seen lots of thaws go and one where the cap was just loose.

Oh why use radweld though?. I'd find the fault and fix it, flush all that out and then refill. All it will do is clog up your system over time as it meets air and sets..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Cheers for the replies guys,

Had it pressure tested at the garage today and fortunately not the head gasket. Was a plastic plate/connector at the rear of the engine that had cracked.

Only put radweld in as had to nurse it back from work and it's due a service now anyway. It's having all the fluids drained and redone etc as part of this job so didn't think it would cause too much of an issue long term.

Thanks again
 
cky3001 said:
Cheers for the replies guys,

Had it pressure tested at the garage today and fortunately not the head gasket. Was a plastic plate/connector at the rear of the engine that had cracked.

Only put radweld in as had to nurse it back from work and it's due a service now anyway. It's having all the fluids drained and redone etc as part of this job so didn't think it would cause too much of an issue long term.

Thanks again
Click to expand...

Glad you found it easily. Some of these can be sods to find as they don't even show on pressure testing and water evaporates off making them near invisible.

Good idea to flush out the old radweld and top up with new coolant.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom