I'm looking for some answers about why my 2009 non s clubman is gulping down coolant as I pour it in. I've had to order a new radiator cap cause of some issues and well, I lost all my coolant while in the midst of it. Now that I have the cap, I tried adding more coolant but when I start to pour it in it starts making a draining sound and my coolant is completely drain out. I've looked for leaks an haven't seen any. My thermostat has been replaced as well as some hosing. So I'm confused why it's doing this and wondering where it's all going in a matter of seconds.

 

Could be anything in the system really, but most common will be the thermostat, water pump and water pipe. Hoses aren't usually a problem unless the cars been in an accident or the previous tech to work on it didn't put the hoses back where they belong.

If you say the thermostat was just replaced there is a possibility that whoever did the job may have fatigued the water pipe and caused it to fail down the road.

You'll need to find where the leak is coming from by either a visual inspection or a smoke test.

 

the thing is. It can't be a leak. cause it literally drinking the coolant as I pour it in. Like usually it takes awhile for the radiator to loose the coolant if there's a leaks but like I said the coolant is being gulped down by my car in a matter of seconds after I pour it in.

 

If you're adding coolant to the car and you're hearing it leak out and can visually see the fluid levels drop there is a leak.

These cars only hold about two gallons of coolant if the system is bone dry.

 

it doesn't sound like a leak. It sounds like a bath tup being drained

 

Have you done a pressure test on the system? Does it hold pressure?

If it's holding pressure then keep filling it, I would recommend a pressure bleeder to do an initial bleed, but after that do a heat cycle in the driveway. Let the car cool off and check the coolant level, after that you should only have to add a small amount of coolant to the system and you shouldn't have any problems, unless there is a leak.

 

Alright appreciat it. That was the asnwer I was looking for. I give it a go tonight when I'm off work

 

Not to sound like a smart a$$, but if it was drained due to replacing a component of the cooling system, then it's going to make odd sounds when refilling it as the coolant rises and forces the air out of passageways and hoses. If you have put 10 gallons of coolant in it and it's not leaking out then I would like to see a video. But if it's not draining out, the look up the capacity of the coolant and get to filling it up. Yes it's can make a gulping noise when filling, and yes it's going to take a little bit to fill up if the system was drained. Not that big of a deal to panic over.

 

How did you make out?

 

it worked out. The pressure advice was right on point. I wasn't wanting to keep wasting coolant and I'm not very fimilar when it come to the coolant process. So I appreciate your help.