Coolant leak - somewhere else to check

Sheila came in last night saying the low coolant light had gone off momentarily.
I checked, and the level had dropped by 1.5 cm.

I checked the usual culprits, but all was dry.
Then I noticed a wet pink stain below the expansion tank(on the hydragas sphere)
The underside of the expansion tank was wet, and when I removed the tank I could see that the spring clamp(no 18 below) on the hose(no 6 below) that enters the bottom of the tank was loose enough that I could rotate the pipe on the spigot.
I replaced it with a new jubilee clip and leak fixed. :yesnod:

:broon: thanks David- so often we go on time consuming hunts for that illusive leak that
Brings us oot in a cold sweat. Glad it was so simple! You will sleep ok tonite

John

Those OEM spring clips are a bit rubbish, worm drive clips are far better, you can get a wide band stainless steel one from MIKALOR, they are not cheap, but are the "dogs B........" :yesnod:

AND :woohoo: horray for the coolant alarm, everyone should have one. :slapme:

Thanks for this information David. My next task, once the timing belt is changed, is to install the B&G coolant level alarm kit I bought at Christmas time.

well done David... good job that wasnt a faulty low coolant light again :broon:

mowog73 wrote: Thanks for this information David. My next task, once the timing belt is changed, is to install the B&G coolant level alarm kit I bought at Christmas time.

That should be an easy job compared to the engine mounts (hopefully) there is a good "how to fit the B&G one " in the March MG Enthusiast by F owner Jim Jupp, if you dont get the mag, i can scan it and email it to you ~ just PM me you email address please. :yesnod:

I've noticed there is still a very slight weep at that point, so I'll investigate further tomorrow.

Well, well, the MG continues to surprise me.

After re-tightening the jubilee clip, when I ran the car up to temperature...drip drip drip...

So I took the expansion tank off the car and examined it closely.
It was leaking here:-




I also found a lot of minute cracks in the bottom of the tank, ooh err!

New tank coming soon.

I have seen this problem before with plastic tanks ~ something leaches the polymers out and the plastic becomes brittle and begins to crack, it appears to be worse with the white plastics. Mind you, your tank has been in use for many years so it due for a replacement. :ohmy:

I'm assuming it's the original tank so at least 11 years old, subject to heat stresses, and Ethylene Glycol and other chemicals. so it's had a hard life.

Worth checking yours, you other peeps out there. At least a low coolant alarm would warn you but a fractured tank could empty very quickly.

David Aiketgate wrote: I'm assuming it's the original tank so at least 11 years old, subject to heat stresses, and Ethylene Glycol and other chemicals. so it's had a hard life.

Worth checking yours, you other peeps out there. At least a low coolant alarm would warn you but a fractured tank could empty very quickly.

Thinking about it further that could be the reason why some owners loose a small amount, but dont have any signs of a leak :slapme: its dripping slowly and drying off whilst the engine is running, then leaking again when the system gets back up to pressure.

For the small amount of hassle it is worth a check.

When I was searching for my F's coolant leak last fall I used one of those coolant dye and black light kits. I found it very helpful in finding my leak (intake gasket).