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Post by mk1wanted on Sept 19, 2016 19:43:02 GMT
Hi all,
I'm potentially looking to buy a Mk1 this weekend that has a coolant leak. The seller has only done around 1000 miles in the car in a year, and suspects it may be a pin hole in the radiator or hose or something.
He says it's used about 1 litre since April, and is now using radiator weld stuff to see if it holds it.
I am a complete n00b with coolant etc, I was thinking of factoring in the cost of a new radiator and associated bits to get some money off the car.
My question is this - with the coolant slightly leaking - is there anyway this could be detrimental to the engine at all? (Or is that only if the car overheated?)
(I'm not too bothered as I've been looking for a long while and have a very trustworthy mechanic I can go to with the car. If the price is right, I will do a buy.)
What would you boys say a replacement decent rad and some hoses could cost ?
Cheers guys.
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Post by Horney on Sept 19, 2016 19:54:11 GMT
Best bet is find the leak rather than throwing parts at it. Most likely will be the heater metrix hoses that come out from the bulkhead to the back of the engine.
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Post by mk1wanted on Sept 19, 2016 20:05:11 GMT
Thanks Horney.
What's the best way of going about that - compression test ?
Would that likely be a pain in the rear canoe to sort or is it not too bad? I'm just trying to work out the cost implication, don't want it to put me off if it's a solid car otherwise.
Cheers
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Post by Horney on Sept 19, 2016 20:09:47 GMT
If the engine runs OK with no mayo on the cap and doesn't overheat while sitting at idle it's going to be a hose or the rad. Depending on the condition and price of the car I wouldn't let it me put me off a purchase. These things very rarely blow a head gasket.
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Post by mk1wanted on Sept 19, 2016 20:12:28 GMT
Oh yes the seller is an enthusiast and was previously owned by a well known bloke on the forums. He has no reason to lie and I believe him, it's been driving fine and not overheating or anything. Just loosing a small amount over time.
Thing is I'll be doing more like 1000 miles in 6 weeks not 1 year, so will want it sorted.. Cheers
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Post by boringgit on Sept 20, 2016 8:53:07 GMT
Full hose set isn't expensive, and neither is a radiator, which I'd be inclined to change or at least flush out if it's had Radweld gunk in it.
It probably is the heater hoses at the back though, all the oil gets on them and sometimes as I've found if they have been change some numpty hasn't done the clips up tight enough... (yes, that numpty was me!).
You might be able to see, or feel around hoses etc for spray coming off.
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Post by wannabe on Sept 20, 2016 11:26:26 GMT
These things very rarely blow a head gasket. Trust me to buy a 'rare' one  lol |
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Post by madbean on Sept 20, 2016 14:38:39 GMT
I put red food dye in the coolant once to find the leak, worked very well
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Post by atlex on Sept 20, 2016 15:18:11 GMT
I put red food dye in the coolant once to find the leak, worked very well good idea. also... glow in the dark dye  |
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Post by Meerkat on Sept 20, 2016 16:55:21 GMT
I would agree with boringgit that a radiator/hose/thermostat change might be a good idea if you do end up buying it - I have personal experience of what that radweld stuff can do to the inside of the system (from a previous car) and it's not very pretty. The parts aren't expensive and it's easy enough to do. Also if the radiator is old and has gone brown then it's possible that might be where your leak is - they tend to get brittle over time and hairline cracks along the top or bottom plastic seams are not uncommon. |
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Post by mattk on Sept 20, 2016 18:01:09 GMT
I'm more concerned by the radweld being put in it rather than a leak! Definitely flush at the least / replace the system if funds allow. Ideal time for an aluminium radiator upgrade!
Most likely would be the heater bulkhead hoses, although if you can check the inside of the firewall and the carpet behind the centre of the dash, do so as it could be the inch long rubber hose that connects the hard copper(?) pipes from the bulkhead to the heater matrix.a tiny leak could just be getting soaked up by the carpet.
Check the coolant hose under the throttle body too, my new car had a leak here.
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Post by mk1wanted on Sept 20, 2016 20:01:31 GMT
Thanks for all the brill inputs chaps!
Will take a good look when I go and look at it. But I've been after one long enough, I'm likely just going to buy it anyway. I will find out if the owner has put in any radweld or equivalent and tell him not to bother if he hasn't already!
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Post by mk1wanted on Sept 20, 2016 20:22:41 GMT
Balls - it's already in. New rad on the cards anyway, what else should I think about replacing at the same time? Hoses?
It is the original and kind of browned lol.
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Post by atlex on Sept 20, 2016 21:04:41 GMT
hoses are good to replace if you're doing the rad at the same time....
silicone if you're feeling rich, standard hoses are strong too tho.
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Post by boringgit on Sept 20, 2016 21:32:21 GMT
If you haven't got any history of it being done, do the cambelt and waterpump too. If you're going to the hassle of doing every other cooling part it'd be a bugger if the waterpump was leaking :-)
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lol
le sigh