Please don't laugh at me...

[CAJ1]

My other half is away and like a typical woman I leave all the car stuff to him lol!

I noticed the temperature dial was close to red, opened the bonnet and the plastic bit for coolant was bone dry. I added a mix of water and coolant to halfway point, thought that was it sorted. Drove a couple of miles, same problem with temperature so I checked under bonnet and the plastic bit was empty again, filled it to halfway again. Same problem 5 miles down the road! Please help me, I've had the engine off when I've put it in - is this right? The car is a vauxhall corsa.

TIA

[Postdog]

Fill up again (just water), run the car for a bit but stay where you are, then lok for a leak underneath. Sounds to me like you have a leak, which could be something sinple like a split hose to a dodgy radiator or pump.

Best not actually drive it anywhere until you determine because empty it could do a lot of damage.

I'm no expert BTW, just had a rad problemon my vauxhall.

[AlBags]

Carefully remove the cap when warm.
Run the engine on tickover and gradually keep topping coolant until level stops depleting. Put on cap and go for a few minutes driv. Return and carefully take off cap after waiting 5 mins again. Top up.
If you hear and loud gurgling or see steam .. leave to cool down first .. before removing cap.

[Maydup]

You have leak CAJ1 - Phone a garage in the morning and book it in. Don't drive it until your appointmnet, then fill it up to just before you leave and you should get there before it overheats again.

Good luck

[CAJ1]

Thanks for the answers, I think i'll take it to garage cos I've not a clue lol. Thanks though :)

[Buenchico]

As Postdog indicates, the first thing to do (after putting some coolant in, of course!) is to look under the car to see if you can see coolant leaking away. If so, try to see where it's coming from. With a bit of luck it will be from a hose, or from where a hose is connected to some other part of the cooling system. (They're both very cheap to fix).

If the coolant is coming from the radiator, you can probably fix it (temporarily, at least) by getting some 'Radweld' from a garage or motor accessories shop. (You're meant to drain the coolant system before adding it but, in my experience, you can just put it in the radiator). A more permanent fix (i.e. by replacing the radiator) will be dearer than replacing a hose but still not wildly expensive.

However there's one possibility that could prove to be very costly:
Remove the oil filler cap and take a look at the surface of the oil. It should look exactly as you'd expect oil to do (i.e. liquid, with a shiny surface). If it looks 'like mayonnaise' the head gasket has almost certainly gone. Expect a bill of somewhere between £700 and £1000 to fix the problem.

Chris

[AlBags]

We're not all driving Escort Mk1's you know Chris.

A top or bottom hose for some French cars are 100 quid a pop.

... and BTW .. You're not going to find a leak when there may be nothing in it to start with, are you?

Also .. most modern engines have a cam splash shield under top cover .. so you won't see anything.

Fill the system up first .. run about for a few minutes .. then check.

[Buenchico]

So it's a French Vauxhall Corsa, is it then, Al? That's a new one to me!
;-)

[CAJ1]

Thanks for the help, will try and see if its leaking tomorrow but being a complete car idiot i'll not know the name of the bit it is leaking from if it is leaking lol. If you take the car to the garage to get advice, do you get charged or is it just if they repair it? Never been to a garage lol :D

[CAJ1]

Ps: head gasket had to be replaced 3 months ago so i'll check to see what the oil looks like, thanks Chris

[Buenchico]

A decent garage shouldn't charge you for quickly looking over your vehicle. (My local guy often does little remedial jobs, taking a few minutes, totally free of charge!). Obviously, if the only way to diagnose a fault is to spend time taking things to pieces, you're likely to incur a charge even if they don't actually do the remedial work.

[CAJ1]

Thanks Chris, off to the garage in a bit fingers crossed lol!

[CAJ1]

Water is leaking into oil and cap looks like mayonnaise! Back to the garage that fixed it as head gasket should be under warrantee

[Buenchico]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, CAJ1 ;-)

[CAJ1]

Thanks Chris, going to fix it, then trade it in as deposit on a new car, this one is starting to be far too costly!