Finding a slow water leak

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TerryG
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Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:54 pm
Location: East Midlands

Finding a slow water leak

#1 Post by TerryG » Sun Mar 01, 2015 7:22 pm

My modern is losing about 1l of water every month (about 2000-2500 miles). I can't find a source of the leak so my cunning scheme is to buy a filler cap for the overflow bottle, drill a hole in it and add the valve from an old inner tube with silicone to keep it air tight. Then using a foot pump over-pressure the system (20psi or so) and see if the leak becomes apparent.
Is doing this likely to break anything (other than whatever is already leaking)? I'm not planning on going daft with pressure but I know it's only designed for 15psi.
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.

harvey
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Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:47 pm

Re: Finding a slow water leak

#2 Post by harvey » Sun Mar 01, 2015 7:32 pm

If it leaks in use, and the system is 15psi, then pump it up to that, if you go any further you will run the risks of causing extra leaks, rather than finding the one you've got already.
Currently over 35 years worth of fixing 35 boxes.
Hoping to reach 65 years worth of fixing 65 boxes.

Cambronne
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Re: Finding a slow water leak

#3 Post by Cambronne » Wed Mar 04, 2015 1:03 am

It could be the water is going somewhere warm enough to let it evaporate away unnoticed. Try a detailed search with the system at full heat after a drive. Powder (e.g. talc) might help the pinpointing.

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TerryG
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Re: Finding a slow water leak

#4 Post by TerryG » Wed Mar 04, 2015 4:35 pm

It holds 15psi all night so that idea's out of the window. There must be an annoying set of circumstances that cause the leak. thanks for the talk suggestion, i'll get some and power it around all the hose joins to see if any gets wet.
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.

3xpendable
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Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:03 am

Re: Finding a slow water leak

#5 Post by 3xpendable » Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:32 pm

Is it the Mondeo Terry?

Mine had that issue though not as seriously and granted it's a petrol, but it turned out the water pump was leaking from the shaft seal, so it got sprayed around the belts and away when the car was running, and when it was stationary it was pooling up in the pulley! Might be worth a look.
2013 Dodge Durango R/T
1965 Ford Anglia 106e Estate (Wagon). LHD.
1964 Ford Anglia 105e Saloon

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TerryG
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Location: East Midlands

Re: Finding a slow water leak

#6 Post by TerryG » Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:35 pm

It's the Focus. I'll have another good look at the weekend.
I just know it will decide to become a major leak when stuck in traffic somewhere.
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.

Fatbloke
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Location: Royal Wootton Bassett

Re: Finding a slow water leak

#7 Post by Fatbloke » Tue Mar 17, 2015 11:45 am

Had the same problem with Mrs FB's Touran.

Radweld has sorted it for the time being! :oops:
Mike.

A Fatbloke in a Herald

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TerryG
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Re: Finding a slow water leak

#8 Post by TerryG » Tue Mar 17, 2015 12:07 pm

I've got bored looking so have gone back to tinkering with weekend toys. When the weather drys out so I can see the difference between spray, rain and radiator water i'll start investigating again. its a bugger as idling on the drive it doesn't lose a drop, driving around everything gets soaked by the rain.
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.

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