Hi Guys

I have a problem with losing water (it's the car that's incontinent not me). It is coming out of the overflow pipe.

I think it may be that I have a leaky head gasket and the cooling system is being pressurised. Any ideas on how to check it?

Set up is 1330 crossflow (re-built 900 miles ago), Escort rad (new), Escort thermostat (new)large electric fan. Water pump looked OK when I fitted it

No sludge on the rad cap (which is new) no sludge on the oil filler cap.

Could it be that there just isn't enough capacity in the system which is causing it to overheat and lose water?

TIA

Alan

Idiot:-( It's a 1300 crossflow, not a 1330.

When does it come out, and how much?
As soon as you start the engine? After it has warmed up, after a hard run?
Do you have an overflow bottle or a header tank, (or neither)?
Have you done a compression test on the engine?
What poundage is the radiator cap?
I know a bit about this kind of problem but I need to know more about you set-up
John

You can buy stuff from the local factors, (probably even Halfords too) that you add to the coolant and it changes colour if theres exhaust gasses getting into it. Not tried it myself but heard good things..

Thanks for your replies.

It seems to lose water from the overflow when it has reached normal temperature. If the car is left to idle, it gets to temperature and water comes out of the overflow. Rad cap is 13lbs. Quinton Hazell FC52. Haven't tried a compression test as I don't have the gear to do it. No overflow bottle and no extra header tank. If it is normal for the system to lose water as in a modern pressurised system, would fitting an overflow bottle help? I assume the way pressurised systems work is that as the system cools down the water in the overflow bottle is magically sucked back in to the system.

Re the stuff you add to the coolant to check for exhaust gasses in the system, it sounds like a good idea. I'll try and get some this weekend.

I think I have sorted my incontinence. In the end it looks as though it was an air lock. Sooo, managed to get a header tank Triumph TR7 very compact. Fitted it at the rear of the engine as high as possible. Bottom connection from tank to water pump and top connection to inlet manifold. Left original TR rad cap on which I believe is 15psi. Escort rad cap on rad. Did a 50 mile round trip yesterday and no problems. The header is brass, so I might polish it one day!!

Alan