Losing water from overflow slowly?

[Franco Cozzo]

Is it normal to lose water level in the overflow tank over time?

TDCI Focus with 75,000km on the clock, my coolant level is just a bit under the minimum indicator.

I haven't noticed any leaks inside the car at all, though the other night there was some water in the footwell on the floor mat, but my passenger stepped in a puddle accidentally before she got into the car so I'm guessing its from that.

[josem]

Generally you should not be loosing any coolant at all because it is a sealed system. It is a sign that you have a leak. Sometimes the leak is not visible from the top if you just pop the hood up. I have a leak on my focus just after 20,000 kms and I only noticed it when I was changing the oil myself and I was under the car. The red/pink coolant was very visible under the was pump and some of the pulleys from underneath the car but not visible if viewed from the top of the engine.

[simon varley]

If I remember right, the cap seals on o-rings. There have been cases where the bottle distorts and the opening is no longer round so the o-rings don't seal properly. If you can't see any obvious residue from a leak you could consider this.

[Franco Cozzo]

At the moment its half way between empty and the minimum mark on the overflow bottle.

[fbvisitor]

Just wondering how this turned out.

Was it the heater core leaking or something else?

Cheers.

[Franco Cozzo]

Hasn't turned out to be anything just yet, nothing obvious is leaking but its still very slowly losing coolant.

[oemdenied]

radiator is one of the common leak points on the Focus mk2 - end caps.
Have the system pressure tested.
Last 2 we did were both XR5s @ 60k service.

[dirty hands]

thats low kms to have this sort of problem

very strange ....

petrol and diesel engines available .. nice car



this artical . writer must not like ford focus ..

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/comm...oblems/1201320


all used an oil cooled turbo if fitted I see

if it had a water cooled turbo fitted - I would be looking at the turbo internals

[Franco Cozzo]

I've pressure tested system, it very slowly loses some pressure, as in over an hour period, very slowly.

[oemdenied]

Originally Posted by dirty hands

thats low kms to have this sort of problem

very strange ....

petrol and diesel engines available .. nice car



this artical . writer must not like ford focus ..

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/comm...oblems/1201320


all used an oil cooled turbo if fitted I see

if it had a water cooled turbo fitted - I would be looking at the turbo internals

I cant think of any Turbo vehicle built in the last 10 years that doesn't have an oil line to it for lubrication? or any that isn't water cooled?

Pressurise the system and inspect all hose connections and the radiator end tanks fully whilst under pressure. If no visible leak is found, pressure test the cap. If that all checks out I would start looking at an internal leak such as head gasket. Never seen a turbo leak coolant internally only at the sealing washers which will give you an external weep/drip during pressure testing.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I've pressure tested system, it very slowly loses some pressure, as in over an hour period, very slowly.

Bugger... that will be hard to find.

Perhaps it's losing pressure from the actual testing unit? Set it up again, and if the pressure slowly drops again spray soapy water around the fittings and see if it bubbles up.

[marg99]

The other less desirable choice is leaking at the water pump Is the pump external or inside the timing chain cover in which case you will need to look at the small drain hole at the bottom of the cover under the pulley to see if there is coolant stains down there