I have a 06 mini cooper I check the expansion tank every couple weeks and it seems i have to fill it up every time. Is this normal or is there something wrong? I'm not leaking coolant any where just don't understand why have to fill it up all the time or do i not need to fill it to the max all the time?

 

*fill

Now that that is done, You should not have to keep refilling your expansion tank(To the top of the fins inside of the tank, not completely full.)

If you don't see any fluid leaking out of the engine, you might be leaking INTO the engine(worse).

 

Is there a way to tell if it is leaking into the engine? What do I look for? Have me worried now its only got 17000 miles on it. I did replace the thermostat couple months ago when it started to leak. Could my expansion tank be leaking slowly where i wouldn't see and coolant on the ground?

 

When coolant leaks into the engine/oil you generally get the reverse as well. Oil in your coolant. These are generally indicative of problems with head gaskets cracked heads etc.

Now for the more likely and better options. It is still possible that you have a small leak that is not making it to ground. Get her on ramps or stands and crawl around under it. Look for areas that are unusually blue, since our coolant is dark blue/purple it tends to leave discoloration on light metals when it evaporates on them.

17,000 Miles on a Gen 1? or was this just posted in the wrong forum? We can't tell you common leak areas without knowing for sure which engine you have.

 

NO that is correct its a 2006 mini cooper hatchback with 17000 miles on it

 

Are you filling it up ? or are you feeling it up sorry couldn't resist.

 

haha good one didn't even notice I had done that.

 

Agarwaen summed it up pretty good had a 2001 Sonata with same symtoms ended up up being a cracked head and was lucky it was under warranty at the time.Hope it a minor problem for ya

 

1. I presume that when filling you are only going to the full mark and not the top. Else when things get hot you are overflowing and spilling coolant out.

2. An S? If so, the GEN1 S coolant overflow tank is a high failure item, when hot and the system is under pressure they leak at the seam that runs all the way around the middle. Of course when you check the level and the system is cool the coolant level has withdrawn back into the cold block; below the leak level. Even with the redesigned and improved model (on which I see no difference from the original) I see them fail at about 3 years. In fact I put one in 3 years ago for someone and they just called saying it is leaking again. Now when this leaks the amount that drips is small and the drip usually falls on the heat sheild just below. When the engine is running this sheild is HOT and that drip tends to flash off almost immediately. All you'll typically see is some residue from the chemicals on the heat sheild and that can be mistaken for dirt or corrosion.

This is a low cost item - around $40 - and very easy to replace: one bolt and a hose clamp (you may want to move the ignition coil for better access wiggling the tank in and out.

If you want bling and never to worry about failure again there are stainless ones out there but they are $$ (plus they don't come with a stainless cap, that's extra)

I've not seen similar problems on the Justa tho . . .

 

Yes that is correct when i fill it up i fill it to the max line. Its not a S? Do the non turbo mini's of this year have the same problem with the expansion tank?

 

it seems that your expansion tank is busted..or has a small hairline crack somewhere...had this happen to my 330ci but after 140k miles...17k is kinda low for this to happen...if ur under warranty, go to the dealer...if not, fill it up, and use a flashlight to check of drops coming out...if the tank is leaking, u will see it right away...then order a new tank online...under a 100 bucks and swap it out...pretty simple DIY

 

technical foul: GEN1 S is super charged not turbo charged but yes some slang calls both a turbo

but as I said: no I have not seen this as a problem on the non S (aka Justa) but that does not mean yours does not have a crack . . . issue is a small drip may flash off due to its dropping (dripping?) in a very hot location so you need to look for residue not wetness

 

Have not seen any residue any where. Bought a new expansion tank see if that is the problem

 

The tank is NOT PREASURIZED on the just-a-cooper....so it is not likly the issue...

 

What do you think the problem is or where do you think i should look? THinking of taking it to have some one look at it.

 

buy the forge tank its the best and its an easy install. if i can do it anyone can.. check my gallery out and i have it pictured there. i went thru 2 tanks before that and i only had 60k on my car.

 

Could be anything....you must be a dectective....
could be a pin hole in the radiator...a bad hose...even a gasket.
look for white-ish residue anywhere there is radiator fluid flowing internally....also you can sometimes smell it.
on the non s the tank is a conventional overflow, non-preasureized tank....so look elsewhere....