Using water

[Mas Mac]

Hi guys,
My stock-standard 1993 Samurai JX has started using water, which is a bit of a worry. She uses about two thirds of a litre on a 100km trip. Its been doing it for about 6 months now and I am watching it very closely. I can't see any external leaks and there's no milky-looking oil on the dipstick, so I presume the head gasket is leaking into one of the pots and the water is going out the exhaust. I suppose I should replace the head gasket, but has anyone got any other suggestions? She has done 160,000 km and still goes really well. Are new head gaskets easy to get?

[churchill]

Check you plugs, if ones a different colour to the rest this might be an indication as to which cylinder its leaking into if its leaking. Also take the radiator cap off and check for bubbles coming up through the radiator when the engine is running (either do it from cold or de-pressurise the radiator first), this is another sign you might have a blown head gasket.

If you water pump hasn't been replaced it could also be on its last legs, I've seen Mitsi's and Honda's go in for cam belt replacement with knackered waterpumps at 110,000km and 170,000km. I don't know how long the Vitara water usually pumps last.

Hope this helps.

[mudlva]

also replace the cap the springs wear and it then starts pushing water out of the overflow bottle
just a thought

[Swamped]

Is the water real dirty?? When the head gasket went on one of ours it dirtied the water pretty good. Easy as to do the head gasket if it has gone.

[churchill]

Any news with the water leak?

[Mas Mac]

Thanks for the helpful comments guys, I will certainly try doing those things. The water is not at all dirty - quite clean in fact. I will check for bubbles and also check the plugs and radiator cap etc as suggested.

[Mas Mac]

No sign of air bubbles in the radiator when I checked at start-up this morning. Its the water in the plastic over-flow bottle that keeps disappearing, not the water in the radiator. The radiator remains full, but thats only because I keep topping up the overflow bottle when I find it empty.
Cheers,
MM

[mudlva]

buy a new cap and check the small hose to make sure there is no cracks etc

[Swamped]

Id def get a new cap and see if that helps given what you said. Sounds like water is just boiling away somewhere. I had a tiny crack in my radiator which was real hard to find last time i had a problem like this.

[Mas Mac]

Thanks guys.
From your comments about the radiator cap it seems that its important for the whole system (including overflow bottle) to be air-tight? If so, then you may have identified the problem because the lid of the overflow bottle is worn, doesn't seal properly and is not air-tight. In fact, sometimes when I return from a trip I find the lid has come off. Could the solution be as simple as getting a new overflow bottle? That would be a cheap fix!!

Please excuse my ignorance on modern pressurised cooling systems (my other car is a Model A Ford ).

[churchill]

Strange that the lid comes off, that part of the cooling system shouldn't pressurise... Make sure that the vent hose isn't blocked. What colour is the water in the overflow bottle and what colour is the overflow bottle, rusty red?

[Ralfie]

Thanks guys.
From your comments about the radiator cap it seems that its important for the whole system (including overflow bottle) to be air-tight? If so, then you may have identified the problem because the lid of the overflow bottle is worn, doesn't seal properly and is not air-tight. In fact, sometimes when I return from a trip I find the lid has come off. Could the solution be as simple as getting a new overflow bottle? That would be a cheap fix!!

Please excuse my ignorance on modern pressurised cooling systems (my other car is a Model A Ford ).

Are you filling the overflow bottle fully to the top? If so you shouldn't. There needs to be a space inside for expansion when it gets hot so is probably just blowing enough out for this purpose.

[Mas Mac]

The water is very clean - no sign of rust at all. I only fill the water bottle to the correct hight each time (the mark showing where to fill it to).
Cheers,
Mac

[Mas Mac]

The sequel: It wasn't very complicated in the end, just a very slight leak from the radiator, discovered by a pressure test at my garage . I will block off the offending tube, for a cheap fix. Thanks for all your suggestions anyway