Nissan Primera losing water
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Sheffield / North Wales
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nissan Primera losing water
My old man's 93 Primera 1.6 is getting through its coolant pretty rapidly. Can't see any leaks from the radiator so suspecting the head gasket, but there's no goo under the radiator cap which I thought was the sign to look for of the head going. Seems to be running fine but it does have well over 100k miles on the clock. Any ideas what it could be?
Cheers,
Ben
Cheers,
Ben
#2
It can only be into the oil or out to the world. If you drain the oil and it looks OK then its escaping to the world. Best way to test for a coolant leak is take it for a good hard run then park it up, stop the engine and stop the electric fan from running. The pressure in the system will rise and you should see the leak. If its leaking out you'll smell it.
Cheers
Cammy
Cheers
Cammy
#3
Several ways coolant can be lost. Leaks anywhere in the cooling system could be responsible and the cylinder head gasket is part of the coolant system. Via a damaged head gasket, coolant can thus enter the engine and exit out the exhaust system as well as becoming severely over-pressurised. If all hoses, radiator, water pump, heater matrix etc appear sound then suspect: Damaged (they rarely fail) head gasket.
Here's a test I've used:
As appears the case here, in the absence of classic signs of a damaged head gasket, look for other signs. As already advised above, following a run with a warm/hot engine, allow to stand for a few minutes. Then, VERY CAREFULLY and SLOWLY (use stout gloves) remove the coolant expansion cap. If your head gasket is sound, there should be a gentle 'shuuushh' sound at some stage as the normal warm engine coolant pressure is released. If a damaged head gasket is allowing compression gases into the cooling passageways, pressure build up therein could be at a VERY HIGH level. SO BE CAREFUL in case this is what's happened to this Nissan. What usually happens then is that there is at best, an obviously above normal release of pressure immediately followed by much spilling of coolant as it bubbles up and overflows out of the expansion bottle. That is unmistakeable! Near boiling coolant under extreme abnormal pressure is obviously VERY DANGEROUS and worst case, a litre or more can be forcibly ejected at high velocity all over the place including you. Anything of this nature will confirm the head gasket is damaged. If you don't fancy checking this yourself, find someone with the necessary experience to do it. It can be risky.
Good luck.
Here's a test I've used:
As appears the case here, in the absence of classic signs of a damaged head gasket, look for other signs. As already advised above, following a run with a warm/hot engine, allow to stand for a few minutes. Then, VERY CAREFULLY and SLOWLY (use stout gloves) remove the coolant expansion cap. If your head gasket is sound, there should be a gentle 'shuuushh' sound at some stage as the normal warm engine coolant pressure is released. If a damaged head gasket is allowing compression gases into the cooling passageways, pressure build up therein could be at a VERY HIGH level. SO BE CAREFUL in case this is what's happened to this Nissan. What usually happens then is that there is at best, an obviously above normal release of pressure immediately followed by much spilling of coolant as it bubbles up and overflows out of the expansion bottle. That is unmistakeable! Near boiling coolant under extreme abnormal pressure is obviously VERY DANGEROUS and worst case, a litre or more can be forcibly ejected at high velocity all over the place including you. Anything of this nature will confirm the head gasket is damaged. If you don't fancy checking this yourself, find someone with the necessary experience to do it. It can be risky.
Good luck.
#5
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Sheffield / North Wales
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the replies guys. Can't smell it but it doesn't seem to be pressurising the coolant excessively either. Bought some radiator leak repairing gunk in Halfords to see if it helps at all, if so we'll see about a rad from a breakers.
Cheers,
Ben
Cheers,
Ben
Last edited by scoobyster; 10 April 2004 at 10:01 PM.
#6
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mattybr5@MB Developments
Full Cars Breaking For Spares
12
18 November 2015 07:03 AM
Pro-Line Motorsport
Car Parts For Sale
2
29 September 2015 07:36 PM