Vauxhall Frontera losing coolant.
Variant: 2.2 16v 4x4
Model Year: 1997
Categories:
Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
on first driving my car all seemed ok,good oil pressure,low temp. then after a few longish trips it started to lose coolant and warm up.also oil pressure needle would fall to half way when not in gear ie; traffic lights.im not sure if the fan works as i cant hear it kick in and not sure how to check if it does.on filling the header tank and running the engine and looking for leaks have noticed liquid coming out of exhaust tail pipe, this increases when the engine is reved up.
not having owned a frontera before im unsure if oil pressure gauge should do this when idling, as for coolant loss im totally baffled.please advise
regards gary
not having owned a frontera before im unsure if oil pressure gauge should do this when idling, as for coolant loss im totally baffled.please advise
regards gary
Posted: Aug 21, 2009 (15 years ago)
Hi i'm not sure about the oil temperature gauge could be a faulty connection.
Is your car a diesel or petrol if petrol the following will help
You say you see liquid coming out the exhaust is the liquid clear like water or are the colour of your emissions white? If your emissions are coming out a normal colour (grey) then this liquid is most probably water, meaning your catalytic converter is doing its job properly!if they are white then you've got coolant going into one or more cylinders this could be through a blown head gasket or hair line crack within the cylinder block or cylinder head between the water jacket and cylinder.
A way of testing your emission colour is putting your foot down and have someone look at whats coming out the back of your car! Also try running a compression test on each cylinder! if you want more info as to how to do this then just ask! this will tell you the condition of your engine!
Finally to test the fan is working correct start the engine and let it warm up! then using a laser thermometer measure the temperature of your coolant check with the man spec what temp your fan should come on usually around 95deg.C if it doesn't come on above 100 deg.C then bad news it aint working!
Hope this helps
Is your car a diesel or petrol if petrol the following will help
You say you see liquid coming out the exhaust is the liquid clear like water or are the colour of your emissions white? If your emissions are coming out a normal colour (grey) then this liquid is most probably water, meaning your catalytic converter is doing its job properly!if they are white then you've got coolant going into one or more cylinders this could be through a blown head gasket or hair line crack within the cylinder block or cylinder head between the water jacket and cylinder.
A way of testing your emission colour is putting your foot down and have someone look at whats coming out the back of your car! Also try running a compression test on each cylinder! if you want more info as to how to do this then just ask! this will tell you the condition of your engine!
Finally to test the fan is working correct start the engine and let it warm up! then using a laser thermometer measure the temperature of your coolant check with the man spec what temp your fan should come on usually around 95deg.C if it doesn't come on above 100 deg.C then bad news it aint working!
Hope this helps
Posted Aug 21, 2009 (15 years ago)
hi mate,sounds like youve got a blown head gasket.to check this get engine to normal temperature,leave for about twenty mins to cool of then take cap of expansion tank,if you get a big hiss thats back pressure meaning head gasket blown. hope this helps you.
Posted Mar 11, 2011 (13 years ago)
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