Just wondering if anyone has experienced coolant loss in their coolant expansion tank? About 12 months after I took delivery, I noticed it was almost gone from the tank, maybe about a 1/2" at the bottom (nice brown coolant). So I topped it off to exactly the "do not fill above this line" line with a 50/50 mix of genuine mini coolant ($17.99 per gallon!) and genuine water (1 cent per 5 gallons...heh!). Now about 10 months later, it is down to the very bottom of the expansion tank. Maybe this is just evaporation? I suppose refilling the expansion tank to the "fill line" every 10 to 12 months isn't a real issue or indicative of a problem, is it?

As a side note, the dealer pressure tested my MINI coolant system in July when my power steering pump failed on the hottest day of the year (102 F) and the notes say "pressure tested radiator/coolant system -- no leaks found"

rock on,

-boognish

 

Are you still loosing coolant after they did this test.....I mean if it wasnt leaking out , it had to be going somewhere.

 

You should use distilled water at 69 cents a gallon instead of tap water which has dissolved solids that can deposit in your cooling system. . . . it's not critical if you are just topping off with a few ounces, but definitely do not fill your cooling system with 50% tap water . .

 

Not to be alarmist, but dealership A pressure tested my cooling system the day before Thanksgiving and said "everything's fine". I had noticed a very small amount of steam coming out from under the hood, and a loss in coolant level in the expension tank. A few weeks later, still seeing the steam, I went to dealership B which found a leak in the radiator.

Almost $600 later, I should be okay again.

 

I've had the same problem, '05 MCS. I was suprised to see after ~ 10 months the coolant resevoir was empty. Actually, I didn't notice it, Eric at Helix did, and he added some water. A few months later, the coolant resevoir was still on the low side, so I added a 50/50 mix. I can't find any leaks, either. I hope it is just evaporating, not a slight leak in the head gasket.

 

I talked to one of my Mini techs and he said from time to time he will see cars come in with low coolant or an empty tank.....Says its normal and the car is just burning it off. He said just be aware if you top it off and notice it losing it in short amount of time, you have a problem.

over 10k or 1 year of driving he said you will see it empty sometimes but low most of the time but if its like only 2k miles and you notice alot missing after topping it off....Make an appointment to be safe.

 

top it off, meaning between the Min and Max line, not top it off to the brim.
(just for the sake of it, Im posting...)

I can almost see someone complaining,,, b..but, he said to top it off!

 

What? I've never heard of a car consuming coolant. How does the car burn it off? This seems like a leak to me. I'll check mine tonight.

 

True.

Do not pass the seam. I know of pre 05' models having issues with the tank leaking. I even just had my own service at my shop and went out that weekend to go play and stopped into a lot and noticed my hood smokin...I opend it to see coolant residue on the tank so i played with the cap and it stopped.

 

It is half water. Also remember....Our waterpump is directly bolted to the back of the supercharger which creates more heat the the engine so it could be from that.

 

Not all of us.

 

You got me.....I did say superchargers though.

 

I added about 3.5oz 50/50 mix today. it was at the minimum mark.

I think im going to have my coolant flushed at the 25k mile service.
Mines a 03.

 

In 2 1/2 years and 48,000 miles later, my Mini has only comsumed what was between the two lines. AND I LIVE IN ARIZONA. Can't get much hotter than that. Especially, when the average summer temps range from 110-120 degrees outside.

 

Why do you get a 25,000 mile service???? My car has 21,000 miles on it and says 9,000 miles till the next service. Is this an issue that can be answered by driving style?

On topic - my 05 mcs has lost a little coolant. I'll check again today.


mb

 

Of all the cars I've had (and I've had 25+ ), none of them ever "consumed" coolant unless there was a leak somewhere.

The cooling system is sealed and the only way you should lose fluid would be through a leak, either visible (hose, water pump, cracked overflow tank, etc.) or through a head gasket leak into the combustion chamber.

The heating of the water (supercharger or not) should not make any difference. The cap for the system is a pressure release valve and will open to relieve pressure if the capacity of the cap is exceeded. Unless your car is overheating, I would doubt that any steam escapes the system.

If the cap is leaking, then check the gasket and sealing surface on the tank to ensure you are getting a good seal. If it still leaks, perhaps your cap needs to be replaced.

When the cars I have had used the old style antifreeze, I'd replace it once a year and never have to add anything between changes. The newer cars, like the MINI, have what is called a permanent antifreeze that is designed to last much longer without needing to be changed, sometimes as long as five years.

Read the instructions in your manual for recommendations on change intervals and adding coolant/water. Most cars today suggest using only distilled water to avoid the impurities associated with tap water.

I've had my MINI since September of 2004 and the coolant level has not dropped at all.

 

none of my other cars consume or have consumed in the past either...
but only 3.5oz, who cares (?) . the last time I checked was about a
year ago and same thing.... about 3.5oz added. not enough to really
get me excited.

I am not exactly sure what is included in the 25k mile service (Inspection I?)
but i'll just ask them to flush it anyways. i might get an alignment done
as well.

 

Had the same problem with my O2 MCS...Replaced the coolant resovoir, you know it's leaking by the white crusty deposits on the heat shield near the firewall... They replaced it with another plastic resovoir..(all under warranty)
I think this issue will rear it's ugly head again on mine so next time I am going to replace plastic tank with aluminum one....
anyone tried the aluminum resovoir tank as a replacement???

 

Al, although yours is a commmon problem on the earlier models,
this is not the same problem you encountered. mine has the yellow tank
and has never over flowed. there is no sign of overflow on my
header's heatshield either.

our issue is that the coolant mysteriously evaporates.

 

There's some issue with "burping" the cooling system. I'll undoubtedly get the description wrong, though. Air gets trapped somewhere in the system. The air bubble causes coolant to "back up" in the overflow tank, making it look like the coolant level is right. Eventually, the air bubble works its way out of the system, and the coolant level in the tank drops. At least, that's how I understand it.

I got a new radiator installed a week or so ago. So, there was obviously a coolant flush involved in that too. Checked the coolant level the day after, right in the middle of the two marks. Checked yesterday, and I could just barely see any coolant down in the bottom of the overflow tank.

Same thing happened right after delivery of the car when it was brand new.

 

Burping? Dealer just rushed the fill procedure.Most service manuals have a fill procedure to eliminate air trapped in system.All manuals suggest you check level after a few heat cool cycles and TopOff to recommended level.I find mini dealers dont check level at services unless reminded.:impatient

 

I agree. We just had our '02 MCS in due to leaking around the water pump. It turned out to be the o-rings... $1.12 part and $455 labor, thank goodness for warranty. When I got home, the first thing I did before I shut it off was to bleed the system (which was surprisingly bled already). I then proceeded to check the expansion tank and saw the coolant below minimum (this was with a hot engine). It would have definitely been completely dry when cold.

 

i'm using the new aluminum tank from moss, (the squarish looking one). you can see it in one of the photos in my gallery. i like it way better than the original plastic one that was leaking. no worries now!

 

rrdusek- on those, do you have to open it to see where the level is at?
ive seen aluminum tanks for other cars there's a tube on the outside showing
coolant level.

 

The Moss Mini piece does not seem to have a provision for checking the level w/o removing the cap.

http://www.mossmini.com/Shop/ViewPro...21&SortOrder=1