bacchus

Hi all,

I just purchased an AU I Forte and have had no problems, except for one, which has just surfaced. I climb a lot of hills where I live to go visit friends, and on both ocassions the coolant from the overflow tank has emptied below the min line during the trip. This never happens on other runs (having put nearly 600 k's on it in 3 weeks) and I don't believe there is a cooling problem as it never overheats (we've had three straight 40 degree days). I am very happy with my purchase, but this is worrying me. Is it a design fault with the overflow, or something more I should be worried about?

Thanks in advance

TopGhia

This is a strange one. The car will run hotter climbing hills, is the temp gauge significantly higher doing this? What is the pressure rating of the radiator cap?

I would get a new radiator cap for starters, and if that doesn't work, get the system pressure tested.

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bacchus

no, the temperature never deviates from 1/4 on the scale, well within the normal range. This includes climbing very steep hills on 40 degree plus days. When driving on flat terrain (i.e. most of the time) no coolant loss is apparent.

I am just wondering wheter it is a dersign fault of the tank that causes water to leave through the emergency overflow pipe when at a certain degree of tilt?

TopGhia

The overflow can only work through the radiator cap, you will see it between the bottom and top sealing thingos. So the only way to loose it through there is when the pressure exceeds the rated pressure on the cap. Try replacing the cap first.

__________________
"I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always."

anakha

I've had a similar thing happen in my V8 ED over the last few years, once even after I switched to a new cap. I cant say it was necessarily after driving hills, but generally after hard driving.

TopGhia

Mine will spew water out if I overfill it. I leave it at half-way and it works fine.

__________________
"I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always."