'81 Ford Laser - Radiator?

[lavaghman]

Hi there,
currently over in OZ and have an '81 Ford Laser. It runs fairly good but you have to continually top it up with water, maybe 1.5lt after every 100kms. There is never a leak patch underneath the car though after it has been parked up.

Any remedy spring to mind?

Thanks, Lavaghman

[larsen_huw]

Yes - but gotta leave for work fairly pronto ... not enough time to explain properly. I'll try and get online later this evening and talk you through a few possibilities.

[rivolette]

Let me impede my old friend over here and tell you about a couple of scenarioes.

One possibility is that you're losing coolant/water through the head gasket and the collant is seeping into your engine oil. Although it sounds rather remote since you'd have a dead engine on your hands by now, considering how fast the coolant is disappearing.

You may also be losing coolant by way of evaporation, try this for starters (if you haven't done so already). Go get yourself a new radiator cap and then monitor the coolant level.

Other than those two scenarios, I would imagine that there's a legitimate leak somewhere in the system but it's not showing up as a puddle.

I'm sure howard can add more to it when he gets back. Good luck!

[lavaghman]

Hey, thanks for the reply. Don't think it's soaking into the oil as the oil looks a normal colour and it has been running like this since i got it a couple of months ago! Didn't change the radiator cap but it fits on quite tightly as it is.

Is there any point in getting one of those radiator sealing products that you pour in?

Again the problem does not arise when the car is left idle for a couple of days only when it's been on the go for a while .i.e. water level doesn't drop when car is parked!

Thanks again guys

[larsen_huw]

Firstly, as a 25 year old car, I wouldn't worry too much about a bit of coolent loss.

Assuming the engine is cast iron (which it probably is being a 1/4 of a centuary old Ford ...) then it will have a very good tolerence to moderate overheating. It'll hold up much better than a modern aluminium engine would.

Secondly - old water pipes will bulge a little more than new ones under the pressure of the water pump and the hot water - causing a small amount of water loss. Which would stop once the water pump stops pumping and the engine starts to cool down - hence why you don't get a puddle when the car is standing. It's definately 1 possible solution.

Thirdly - does your radiator cap have a spring on it? If it does, buy a new cap. For the sake of a few quid it's one problem you can rule out. Springs tend to get tired and open too early after long periods of usage.

Just a few ideas for you to get started with. Any chance of a photo of your engine bay - would give me a better idea of the cooling setup Ford used on your car - old Fords are my speciality. :)