Where did the coolant go?

[JayG]

Haven't driven my Targa in a bit, its just been sitting. Started right up, everything good, then I noticed the flashing red light on the temp gauge.
Checked the coolant tank and it was very low. It was not low the last time I checked it and had driven the car. Started putting in water, and it took 2.56 liters to fill the tank. I see no water leaking under the car. Checked the oil, no intermix.

Where did the water go???

[Cuda911]

[5chn3ll]

How's the oil cap look? Free of mayonnaise, I hope?

[02TX996Cab]

If the oil and coolant both look good (no intermix either direction), my guess is a slow leak somewhere in the system. Get the car nice and toasty (so that the coolant system pressure comes up due to temperature), park it on a nice flat clean surface and then look for wet spots forming under the car. That'll give you some indication where a leak might be.

I have seen coolant levels rise and fall slightly due to temperature, but at most I've had to add maybe a pint of water to get the coolant reservoir level up to near max (when cold)...never 2+ liters.

Happy hunting

[JayG]

Oil cap is clean

I'm thinking a small leak somewhere as well. What is interesting is the level drops just by sitting for a couple of weeks.

I think I need to remove all the plastic panels from underneath to expose all the pipes and maybe I will see a small leak

[32wildbilly]

Oil cap is clean

I'm thinking a small leak somewhere as well. What is interesting is the level drops just by sitting for a couple of weeks.

I think I need to remove all the plastic panels from underneath to expose all the pipes and maybe I will see a small leak

Is there an antifreeze smell after driving up to full temp and parking in the garage? Mine drove me crazy for months before I found the water tracks on the back side of the water tank. Water never hit the floor...never. I even put white poster board underneath the car...nothing. Tank was cracked in the back. Water loss was minimal though.

[JayG]

Oil cap is clean

I'm thinking a small leak somewhere as well. What is interesting is the level drops just by sitting for a couple of weeks.

I think I need to remove all the plastic panels from underneath to expose all the pipes and maybe I will see a small leak

Is there an antifreeze smell after driving up to full temp and parking in the garage? Mine drove me crazy for months before I found the water tracks on the back side of the water tank. Water never hit the floor...never. I even put white poster board underneath the car...nothing. Tank was cracked in the back. Water loss was minimal though.

hmmm
Yea I do get a little coolant smell near the front of the car

[32wildbilly]

Is there an antifreeze smell after driving up to full temp and parking in the garage? Mine drove me crazy for months before I found the water tracks on the back side of the water tank. Water never hit the floor...never. I even put white poster board underneath the car...nothing. Tank was cracked in the back. Water loss was minimal though.

hmmm
Yea I do get a little coolant smell near the front of the car

Radiator(s) or hose(s) maybe??

[02TX996Cab]

A couple of thoughts:

1. Take a close look at/around the center radiator (IIRC Tiptronic cars came with them as standard equipment). Unless you've added some, there's effectively zero protection for the center radiator from taking damage from road debris (e.g. gravel) kicked up by other vehicles.

I know at least three folks who developed leaks in their center radiators after taking gravel damage at "highway" speeds. In their cases the damage was much more than a pinhole and required a flatbed tow. If it's a pinhole you can plug it with a sheet metal screw which will allow you to drive the car to your local mechanic (unless you DIY it).

2. The other "obvious" place to look at the front of the vehicle is for corrosion damage to the side radiators. Unless cleaned frequently the interface between those radiators and the A/C condensers gets packed with crap. Bad things can then develop.

[JayG]

A couple of thoughts:

1. Take a close look at/around the center radiator (IIRC Tiptronic cars came with them as standard equipment). Unless you've added some, there's effectively zero protection for the center radiator from taking damage from road debris (e.g. gravel) kicked up by other vehicles.

I know at least three folks who developed leaks in their center radiators after taking gravel damage at "highway" speeds. In their cases the damage was much more than a pinhole and required a flatbed tow. If it's a pinhole you can plug it with a sheet metal screw which will allow you to drive the car to your local mechanic (unless you DIY it).

2. The other "obvious" place to look at the front of the vehicle is for corrosion damage to the side radiators. Unless cleaned frequently the interface between those radiators and the A/C condensers gets packed with crap. Bad things can then develop.

good ideas, thankx