Advice needed

1. Ryancoyle Established Member Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 1050 Volkswagen Bora 170bhp

   #1 5th August 2014, 14:03

   Car is using water at the minute. I need to top up the radiator every week or so but it's been doing this for over a month.
   
   Radiator is not leeking as it's been checked.
   
   What could it be?
   
   Head gasket or temperature sensor maybe?
   
   Thanks
2. chompy Established Member Joined: Jan 2008 Scotland Posts: 1764 Because racecar

   #2 5th August 2014, 14:04

   You either have a leak or the HG is on it's way out
3. Quick Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2003 United Kingdom (England) Posts: 7064

   #3 5th August 2014, 14:52

   Or faulty rad cap!
4. Ryancoyle Established Member Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 1050 Volkswagen Bora 170bhp

   #4 5th August 2014, 15:16

   I was looking at a treatment yesterday for fixing head gasket issues but not sure if it will work.
   
   Any info on this?
   
   Is it worth getting?
   
   
5. chompy Established Member Joined: Jan 2008 Scotland Posts: 1764 Because racecar

   #5 5th August 2014, 15:34

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Ryancoyle I was looking at a treatment yesterday for fixing head gasket issues but not sure if it will work. Any info on this? Is it worth getting?

   As I have recently secured sponsorship with them, yes!
   
   Never seen it in practice, but they do offer a money back guarantee if it doesn't work and you can provide proof that the head gasket was at fault.
6. Ryancoyle Established Member Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 1050 Volkswagen Bora 170bhp

   #6 5th August 2014, 15:37

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by chompy As I have recently secured sponsorship with them, yes! Never seen it in practice, but they do offer a money back guarantee if it doesn't work and you can provide proof that the head gasket was at fault.

   Thanks so I should give it a go. I'll purchase it tomorrow and see if it makes a difference.
7. chompy Established Member Joined: Jan 2008 Scotland Posts: 1764 Because racecar

   #7 5th August 2014, 15:58

   Are you not better off checking out if there is perhaps a leak first?
   
   Stick some paper under the car and run it for 5mins or so. Then feel all the joins etc for leaking and check the paper.
   
   Edit: is this in the Bora? Or have you got another saxo?
8. Ryancoyle Established Member Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 1050 Volkswagen Bora 170bhp

   #8 5th August 2014, 16:32

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by chompy Are you not better off checking out if there is perhaps a leak first? Stick some paper under the car and run it for 5mins or so. Then feel all the joins etc for leaking and check the paper. Edit: is this in the Bora? Or have you got another saxo?

   No it's another Saxo VTR.
   
   I've tried that already, definitely no leek's whatsoever and I checked all the joins / hoses etc.
9. chompy Established Member Joined: Jan 2008 Scotland Posts: 1764 Because racecar

   #9 5th August 2014, 16:32

   oil in the water or water in the oil?
10. D4MJT Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Morpeth Posts: 2539 BMW 116d Regional Toner Sales Edition

    #10 5th August 2014, 16:38

    What's the temperature like when it runs?
11. Ryancoyle Established Member Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 1050 Volkswagen Bora 170bhp

    #11 5th August 2014, 16:43

    No water in the oil I think so anyway's. Any time I check the radiator it's empty so no way of checking that way.
    
    Is there a specific way to check this?
    
    The temperature will go high if sitting in traffic for a long length of time. When driving i.e. 30 mph the temperature just sits under half or when it is too high and I start driving normally again at 30 mph etc. it will just drop.
12. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #12 5th August 2014, 18:43

    How much is that steel seal stuff?
    It won't be much use if your leak is into the oil way and not being burnt off due to a faulty fire ring as it won't get hot enough to do it's job
13. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #13 5th August 2014, 20:40

    First thing get the cooling system pressure checked.
14. Ryancoyle Established Member Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 1050 Volkswagen Bora 170bhp

    #14 5th August 2014, 20:51

    So it would be just better to take it to a mechanic?
15. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #15 5th August 2014, 21:14

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Ryancoyle So it would be just better to take it to a mechanic?

    Well yes a pressure test won't cost the earth and a radiator may look good until tested ,same as a rad cap.
16. Ryancoyle Established Member Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 1050 Volkswagen Bora 170bhp

    #16 6th August 2014, 12:50

    Well I went and got the car checked the day after putting it up on a lift. Had a fiddle about and have found that there appears to be a small leek coming from the radiator pipe but it's more closer to the engine block than the radiator itself.
17. jak.alcock.7 Newbie Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 2

    #17 10th August 2014, 22:31

    Also need advice. When fitting aftermarket air filter on saxo, what do people do with the oil release valve ?