Loss of coolant

[Jack4688]

I have had my 1991 S2 for just over a week now and unfortunately it seems to be losing coolant. No big deal, just top up the reservoir every morning before going to work. If I'm lucky I'll manage the entire 5ish mile, 20 minute journey without the warning light coming up. No sign of the car overheating yet but I fear that may happen in a couple of 3 hour trips I have lined up soon. There is no obvious sign of fluids pouring out from around the engine bay, though I'm not entirely sure where/what I should be looking at/for. Has anyone else experienced this or know any tips that may help me?

[A80Avant]

are you serious? 5mile run and the warning light is almost coming on? that is serious loss! have you checked the oil indicator for bubbles? if you dont see any obvious leaks, there may be some headgasket problem. Do you see any white smoke?

Other usual culprits are the water pump or obvsiously the odd hose that is not that visible

[chezz]

Park the car up and do not drive it anywhere, until you have resolved this problem.

[Jamo]

My betting be a cracked rad around one of the joins or stat hose has seriously perished, if you seriously unlucky it's the head gasket.

Have you checked you oil level and if the cap is covered in mayo?

You can't drive the car in this condition until you find the issue

[andy10v]

If its loosing that much water that quickly I would expect an external leak to be fairly obvious, either soaking interior if heater matrix is away which would be noticed or coolant in the engine bay/on the ground.

Otherwise I would be looking for an internal leak.

If you are driving the car about make sure and have plenty water with you, though hot engines don't like being filled with cold water if it decides to empty itself.

[dmacdou1]

Try running it while parked up with carboard or similar under it, might help you track down the leak, however if its emptying that quickly you should be able to see it fairly handily. If its not coming out, it's going in, headgasket could well be blown(has happened to me before). Hope you get it sorted.

[Quattro Dan.]

How low does the water level in the header tank have to be to activate the low level alarm?

[Jack4688]

It's down about 2 inches from the very top. But I just went for a drive...... white smoke. You don't happen to have any head gaskets lying around Dan?

[newsh]

Time to fit metal headgasket, would have to be done sooner or later