Normal oil build up?

Zep

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No coolant staining anywhere! I dont trust the local mechanic where I live so kind of need to find sonebody reputable to do the pressure test.

Coolant was about 45% full when I topped it up.

Silly question, but if you leave it at 45% full and don’t top it up, does the level continue to drop? I ask because I have owned a few cars where they didn’t like to be filled to the cold line and tended to just spit out what they didn’t want through the pressure relief in the cap.
 

ChrisQP09

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Silly question, but if you leave it at 45% full and don’t top it up, does the level continue to drop? I ask because I have owned a few cars where they didn’t like to be filled to the cold line and tended to just spit out what they didn’t want through the pressure relief in the cap.

The first time I topped it up approx 3.5-4 months ago, it was about 50% full and I topped up to just under the max threshold. Few days ago glanced at the coolant and it was at 45% or thereabouts.

Took it out for a quick drive tonight, coolant still where I left it, no leaks anywhere and still a bit of mikyiness on the rocker cover before I took it up to temp tonight. I will drive for a few more evenings and see what the results are after a few days brief driving. Has anyone on here ever performed a pressure test on the cooling system?
 

Oneball

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Must be more than one garage in Enniskillen.

Pressure test is relatively easy. You’ll need an adapter to fit on in place of your cap and a pump and pressure gauge. You could by a kit and diy.
 

Zep

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I made this many moons ago, a Schrader valve and an old cap. Cost a couple of quid and did the job. Pump it up gently to a couple of PSI and watch the gauge.

If the level stabilises at 45% your car is telling you that’s where it wants to be. No amount of topping up will make it stay at the max line as it will just escape from the pressure relief valve in the cap as the temperature rises and the water expands. The contents will seem lower in winter because the larger difference between the operating temperature and cold temperatures mean the volume reduces more between hot and cold than in summer.

Its the same reason closed heating systems have an expansion vessel, to keep the pressure stable while the volume increases.
 

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philw696

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Has anyone on here ever performed a pressure test on the cooling system?
Me 100'S of times along with a TK test.
Also for extra proof of a head gasket problem I put the sniffer from the gas analyser over the coolant bottle to see if that picks up exhaust gases in the cooling system.
 

tulit

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It could be the coolant cap not holding at higher pressures. Follow the overflow hose and see if there’s signs of coolant that has been coming out.

You really shouldn’t be losing any coolant at all.


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Wagons-Lits

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250
I think coolant expansion tanks cracking are fairly common on QPs? AV noticed mine early and swapped, from memory wasn't an expensive part.
 

Wagons-Lits

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Thanks! Apart from the visible signs such as constant white smoke and creamy oil, are there no performance related symptoms one can use to help diagnose a problem with the head gasket?
btw, cam/rocker/valve gaskets are different from head gaskets - right? e.g cam gaskets leak on all these cars and are practically a scheduled item, whereas I haven't really heard people talk about blown head gaskets. in other words the "weeping" oil around the cam covers isn't really related to your coolant loss/mixing.
 

philw696

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btw, cam/rocker/valve gaskets are different from head gaskets - right? e.g cam gaskets leak on all these cars and are practically a scheduled item, whereas I haven't really heard people talk about blown head gaskets. in other words the "weeping" oil around the cam covers isn't really related to your coolant loss/mixing.
Spot on there.
 

ChrisQP09

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Bit of an update. Got car up to about 50c then took it out for 20 min drive getting it up to about 90c before going up to 5k rpm on some gears.

Parked up and let car cool to about 65c, coolant appears to be largely present. The oil cap was oily but next to no milkiness. Inside the rocker cover smelled like used gasoline and oil with a light light covering of slight milkiness but nothing as vicious as before.

When I checked the subframe, I did notice a sole drip of something which had the consistency of water but none of the smell of coolant. This location was before the driver side wheel. Also noticed a dampish looking patch under the oil sump! Perhaps bit of an oil leak?

Ps. Car booked in for TK test and pressure test of the cooling system.
 

Raffles

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I think coolant expansion tanks cracking are fairly common on QPs? AV noticed mine early and swapped, from memory wasn't an expensive part.

I changed mine last weekend. Brand new - OEM £36 +Vat from Eurospares.


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Wagons-Lits

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I changed mine last weekend. Brand new - OEM £36 +Vat from Eurospares.


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that sounds right, besides the under plates that get rusty probably the cheapest part for these cars! Well worth changing for peace of mind as I think they crack as a matter of course
 

Zep

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I agree, but as the conversion from Fiat to Maserati part involves cutting one of the mountings off and putting it in a blue and white box, I will be buying the £20 including VAT and postage option.
 

TimR

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I recently replaced my expansion/header tank for a Fiat part after removing a lug and installing the brass pipes into the new part ( more involved than I anticipated but figured it was worth doing as it was easy, and strengthens against damage and leaking in future..)
I topped the cars coolant to the max line and proceeded to have a series of small heart attacks on finding leakage under the car following use...Definitely coolant as it tasted sweet. Should have taken closer note of the original level, although the stained watrmarked container does tell a story....
It still sits quite low in tha header tank now. Well below the "min" indicated - I have stopped trying to fix it though. It just spits out what it doesnt want >!?
 
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ChrisQP09

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Update: So almost a week on and took the car out for about an hour. Everything spot on driving wise.

Coolant appears to be slightly below max which is around about where I remember it being 4 days ago.

Oil: Dipstick levels are perfect and no milkiness whatsoever.

Rocker cover/around the oil filling hole: Looks like a good drive cleared up much of the milkiness and looks more like it should? 6486764869
 
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