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  • [Corsa C 2000-2006] Coolant Loss

    Hi all, as some may have followed I have a coolant leak on my new Corsa C.

    I have lost a few CM over 2-3days, I know for certain when I flex the breather on the top of the coolant tank while the engine is hot that some steam comes out because I can hear the hiss.

    Is it safe to say this will be slowing leaking steam while the car is been driven?

    The breather itself has been taped at the end and has a jubilee clip on the breather rarther then the traditional breather clip and looks brand new so can assume it has been recently done.


    My questions are as followings;

    Can I cut off the end of the breather and reapply juiblee clip, or a propper breather clip to stop the leak?

    Are there any other things I can do to find out where I am losing coolant?

    - I did have the car tested for contaminants in the coolant and garage advised nothing came up and definatly nothing wrong with HG.

    I have circled where on the below image;
    ]"]Photo Storage
    Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi SRi - New Car
    Black 1.2 Corsa SXI Project - Sold
    Aruba Blue 1.0 Corsa Project - Sold

  • #2
    If I read that right then it seems likely that loose hose is a probable cause of coolant loss. Anything that allows steam to escape is going to result in coolant loss.
    1972 Viva restoration thread - http://www.thecorsa.co.uk/projects-b....html#post1534

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    • #3
      Topped it up and did fifty mile, coolant is collecting round the rim of the tank so it's definitely losing a bit during driving now. Will try fix it tomorrow. Couldn't find a replacement easy enough as not sure what breather it is or size. Easiest way to get another new one ?

      Will chop an inch off tomorrow and refit the jubilee clip it has until I get a propper OEM clip.

      Sound decent or bodge?
      Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi SRi - New Car
      Black 1.2 Corsa SXI Project - Sold
      Aruba Blue 1.0 Corsa Project - Sold

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      • #4


        There's the leak. Well as far as faults go I can live with this. Will try sort it and keep inspecting to get it like new

        Can I get away with that clip or should I get a propper breather clip?
        Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi SRi - New Car
        Black 1.2 Corsa SXI Project - Sold
        Aruba Blue 1.0 Corsa Project - Sold

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        • #5
          Are you sure it's the clip/hose and not a crack in the connector on the tank? Can't tell off the photo, so just mentioning the possibility.

          To be honest a jubilee clip is perfectly capable of securing a hose like that.
          1972 Viva restoration thread - http://www.thecorsa.co.uk/projects-b....html#post1534

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          • #6
            It could be, only removal will tell, I hope they haven't damaged it with over tightening that clip.

            going to have a look at it now, will report back.

            If tanks damaged I replace tank, but that's why I was asking questions as want to make sure however I go about fixing it its done properly.
            Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi SRi - New Car
            Black 1.2 Corsa SXI Project - Sold
            Aruba Blue 1.0 Corsa Project - Sold

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            • #7
              OK so still getting gunk in my oil but after massaging the breathers / running on idle for 15mins it seems that my rev upon start has dropped (felt it was a little high) and its stopped doing it, could be a fluke.


              IMO jubilee clips are not the best thing to seal breathers at least here as the clip used was too big and wasn't really biting down enough and it was egg-shaped so hopefully this other clip I tried is better, you can see where some has been steaming/leaking out of the end of the pipe.

              Before; ]"]Photo Storage
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              Not cuts in it at all I believe its sealed;
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              I used a fuel line clip instead as it seems to clamp down with the full circle "shape" rather then a egg shaped adjustment like the other one
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              Yanked on the cable and no hiss now, also fan was kicking in and could feel more pressure in the breather (this breather that goes from tank to rad) so think its solved.


              ]"]Photo Storage

              No HG fail, but now I want to work out why this is happening, maybe blocked breathers after the "really ****ty oil state" it was in. Not sure yet which breathers to massage/remove/clean yet or if that's even a worthy idea?

              So, for now I will keep an eye on the coolant level but if it still goes down I must assume its going into my oil

              But in meantime what else can I look at/try to stop gunk?
              Last edited by Aaron; 09-09-2013, 10:24 AM.
              Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi SRi - New Car
              Black 1.2 Corsa SXI Project - Sold
              Aruba Blue 1.0 Corsa Project - Sold

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              • #8
                Jubilee clips are fine - if you use the right size! So if the wrong one was on it makes sense to replace it.

                Mayo is a very common issue on these engines, especially if they're used round town/short journeys - or they've not been run for a while. It's usually just natural water vapour from combustion getting into the oil and condensing out on the coldest part of the engine. The way to avoid it is to try to get the engine good and hot regularly, ie do a long trip once a week. In cars which do a lot of short journeys the oil holds a higher content of water hence the need to change the oil more frequently.

                Check the breather pipes from the camshaft cover to the throttle body to make sure they are clear.

                A car which has been stood for a while can take quite a long time for the water content of the oil to burn off.
                1972 Viva restoration thread - http://www.thecorsa.co.uk/projects-b....html#post1534

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                • #9
                  I've just had an oil change few days ago.

                  And my daily runs will be 45mile runs each way.

                  I'll check those pipes are clear, maybe It just needs more time running to get the crap out the engine, can see my fresh oil getting more dark already so it's working its magic cleaning it up!

                  The cars 10 years old and in good nick and only done 53k miles, its spent the last few months doing barely 3 miles a day so I know I got to blast the "town car grog" from it just thought 2 trips to York would've cleaned it up by now. It has been sat half its life properly.

                  Should I check breathers, if clear - just keep cleaning the mayo and hope it goes by the next 1k miles and oil change?

                  I thought I would inspect the coolant tank and it does appear to show some sign of damage, it may be cracked but I've not felt any steam or loss from that side so will keep an eye on it, if I am still indeed losing coolant the tank is the next thing to go then. It could be a crack or just a messy seal from when it was made along where the parts are joined together - pic below.

                  ]"]Photo Storage

                  Ignore the grease, its WD40.
                  Last edited by Aaron; 09-09-2013, 12:00 PM.
                  Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi SRi - New Car
                  Black 1.2 Corsa SXI Project - Sold
                  Aruba Blue 1.0 Corsa Project - Sold

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                  • #10
                    After a long drive I had a quick peek and tank looked almost empty. Should I wait until cold to check? What things can go wrong to loose coolant without seeing a leak? Hope I ain't losing it intk engine as really expensive fix I'm guessing ??
                    Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi SRi - New Car
                    Black 1.2 Corsa SXI Project - Sold
                    Aruba Blue 1.0 Corsa Project - Sold

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                    • #11
                      Just follow ALL coolant pipes from header bottle, along the top of the radiator to where it "T" junctions.

                      From there one will go to radiator the other to water pump.

                      Check every gap you can see through around the water pump.

                      Check top short hose from thermostat back to radiator.

                      Then very thin hose that runs from back of water pump into throttle body then the hose that exits the throttle body back to expansion bottle.

                      Then roughly in line with oil cap go to the fire wall / bulk head there should be two thicker hoses coming out from there one goes to water pump one to EGR.

                      Give ALL those a check and see if any white or discoloured powder type substance is present anywhere.

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                      • #12
                        Click image for larger version

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                        Anything like this or a white fluffy powder. But also like taurus has said check and clean out the two rear right rocker cover breather hoses as you look at the engine as they get filled with gunk quite often, I also have had them filled with smelly orange / yellow gunk.

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                        • #13
                          BI've got no stains like that. But do get mayo. Did you see my tank image. Does the factory seal look a bit split to you?

                          Will take your post outside with me and see if I can see any white stains. I have not yet but may have missed a few pipes. Don't know where water pump is yet.

                          Will follow t junction line you said. Have looked there but not underneath.


                          Can I loose coolant due to them two topside breathers been blocked?
                          Last edited by Aaron; 12-09-2013, 03:20 PM.
                          Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi SRi - New Car
                          Black 1.2 Corsa SXI Project - Sold
                          Aruba Blue 1.0 Corsa Project - Sold

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                          • #14
                            OCan't see any white stains anywhere, is some mayo in the breather but Dont see how they come off at the back so not cleaned it. Coolant is really low. Checked t shape and all around there shows no white stains down there. Could I be losing coolant into oil after all?

                            The seal of the tank looks a bit **** to me, thinking of taking some tissue to it to see if steam is lost through side of it.??

                            Should I run the car in a way like with cap off for a bit to see if helps?

                            Took some pictures and will add, I'm not much of a mechanic like you guys but I did really try to look everywhere for white stains and see nothing. I can get leaving it standing for four days when next off but sure it only goes down during use so I assume as steam.
                            Last edited by Aaron; 12-09-2013, 04:18 PM.
                            Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi SRi - New Car
                            Black 1.2 Corsa SXI Project - Sold
                            Aruba Blue 1.0 Corsa Project - Sold

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                            • #15
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                              No idea what this value thing is;
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                              Bit slimy inside, couldn't get it off at the other end, didn't want to force it. Couldn't see no clip.

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                              Tiny drip that you might be ale to make out;

                              Did spill some coolant when topping up.
                              ]"]Photo Storage
                              Last edited by Aaron; 12-09-2013, 08:18 PM. Reason: fixed double post
                              Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi SRi - New Car
                              Black 1.2 Corsa SXI Project - Sold
                              Aruba Blue 1.0 Corsa Project - Sold

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