Hi all,

My Stilo since the cold weather has taken a liking to drinking its coolant/anti-freeze. Mileage is above average use each week but I still need to keep it topped up.

Power is still there, no white fumes in exhaust, cap and dipstick clean. On 53k on the clock (1.4 engine).

It is 193 miles away from being due the next service but it just strikes me as a coincidence that since the cold weather has kicked it, its got a little thirsty.

Is this a quirk or something I should be concerned about?

Ta ever so :)

Hi Insy nice to se you again..I think its time a few things were checked over..

Hoses /rad/waterpump/and inside the cab check the carpets are dry..heater matrix is the one to watch out for inside the cab and if its that [god forbid ] its a dash out job I believe so lets hope its not..sniff test will tell if its a head gasket..if its a weeping/leaking water pump then its a cambelt off job to replace it so that will be expensive as well.. MEP has had the leaking rad and his is a 1.4 as well ..if its that then he might be able to point you in the right direction for a new one..

Insy mate hello

Right -------Darn it PNL you done it again and beat me to it. Yeah do what he said

Cheers guys. Carpets are dry.

I've just come back from a drive and have noticed there is still fumes visible from the exhaust but it is cold out.

Pipes and hoses appear to be dry (I've tried to follow them along the engine bay).

The cambelt is due in march (5 years) so I'm hoping it's the waterpump! Surely it should last longer?

Oh and the rad looks in very good nick.

Yes just ordered a replacement radiator for my 1.4 yesterday (£45 plus £12.50 p+p for a new OEM rad, surprising what you can find on eBay :) ). Mines been leaking since about June but only needed topping up once every other month. Since the cold weather has set in though it's got alot worse.

I can't see where exactly it's coming from but checked around the pipes and they're dry, so it's gone somewhere else. Can see red coolant all over the bottom frame work of the radiator housing and undertray.

Might be worth double checking for coolant around the base of the radiator.

Have you pressure tested the coolant system.

Originally Posted by Insomnia

Cheers guys. Carpets are dry.

I've just come back from a drive and have noticed there is still fumes visible from the exhaust but it is cold out.

Pipes and hoses appear to be dry (I've tried to follow them along the engine bay).

The cambelt is due in march (5 years) so I'm hoping it's the waterpump! Surely it should last longer?

Never an easy call when estimating the life of a water pump..my youngest lads car had one go at 54K so as you see its not unknown for this to happen.. if it were me I would want to put my mind to rest with regards to the health of the head gasket and to rule that out so I would be looking for somewhere to get the sniff test done to confirm that its OK or at least do one yourself..if it is the pump then it could contaminate the cam belt and weaken it so if I were you I would get it seen to asap..

UNIVERSAL CYLINDER HEAD COMBUSTION LEAK BLOCK TESTER on eBay (end time 24-Dec-10 12:53:21 GMT)

Just noticed Jons post so thanks for that one MEP..

Originally Posted by MEP

Yes just ordered a replacement radiator for my 1.4 yesterday (£45 plus £12.50 p+p for a new OEM rad, surprising what you can find on eBay :) ). Mines been leaking since about June but only needed topping up once every other month. Since the cold weather has set in though it's got alot worse.

I can't see where exactly it's coming from but checked around the pipes and they're dry, so it's gone somewhere else. Can see red coolant all over the bottom frame work of the radiator housing and undertray.

Might be worth double checking for coolant around the base of the radiator.

Have you pressure tested the coolant system.

There you go insy leaks are not always visable to the eye as Jon has pointed out..also just found this in my favourits on cooling systems and has a section on pressure testing..

Automotive Cooling Systems -* A Short Course on How They Work

Thanks very much fellas for your input. Much appreciated.

I've had a word with my mobile mechanic who said he'd take a look between xmas and the new year. He'll start with a compression test but reckons waterpump.

Time will tell I guess. For now, I've topped the coolant up again and tucked the car in the corner of the drive. Looks like the Coupe has just been promoted to primary car for the festive season!! (there's got to be an upside to this!).

Happy belated xmas everyone!

Found out whats what today.... I have a religious radiator!

As its coming upto 5 years old (in March) I've instructed my trusty mechanic to do the following:
> Full Service
> Cambelt with waterpump replacement
> New radiator

£500 for the lot to be done.

I have been told it needs new discs and pads at the front and the rears will hang in a bit longer. Now this is something I can do myself so not too bad. The upside is the HG is fine and the Stilo lives on to fight another day!