Leaking coolant

[Leethomp]

Good evening everyone. I am new to the forum and hoping someone may be able to point me in the right direction. I have a 2009 d5 xc70 and have loved the car in the last 16 months I have owned it however its just reached 85000 miles and unfortunately let me down. Having recently co me back from holiday the red triangle light come on and I had lost my coolant from the header tank. It had never lost a drop before. Now it's been in the garage for 2 weeks and im still without a car
They have tested the oil cooler. Tested the oil cooler on the auto box. And found no leaks. It's not overheating. The rubber coolant hoses are still sofr to squeeze when at temp and no visible leaks. I am now stumped and the garage are returning as unrepaired. So I was just wondering if anyone else out there gas any ideas or similar problems as They are now suggesting possible new engine..... So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance. Lee

[wilbydoughboy]

Maybe it could be the cylinder head gasket leaking. I had a head gasket go on a new Suzuki van and it forced all of the coolant out of the system. Maybe an additive to the coolant system could plug the leak.

[37 RUBY]

Leethomp,

You don't say as much but if the vehicle was with your garage for two weeks is it assumed they conducted a simple pressure test with dye under cold and hot engine temp conditions to identify any possible leaks?

You appear to focus on components under the bonnet.

What about the heater matrix? In colder months have you noticed that the screen has misted up easier than previously, ie damp carpets.

I remember an issue with a Isuzu diesels fitted to Vauxhall Astra's used as fast response vehicles whereby after a fast run there was a metal to plastic water union that would expand at different rates and when parked the pressure blew water out emptying the header tank.

Volvos have several unions with O-rings that fail. What's to say yours has not dumped water over several journeys from a union/o-ring joint somewhere.
Did the issue come after a long hard run or sat in traffic. You need the garage to emulate the conditions that were present prior to the problem.

Different garage time me thinks....

[Leethomp]

I'll be honest I don't know what the garage has done. Was supposed to be s highly recommended Volvo specialist in milton Keynes area but he has now had it 3 weeks with no phone calls or anybting. He said he has pressure tested oil coolers. Said about head gasket he said it woupdnr be as never seen it on a d5........ I have a friend that works in a police garage as he said about the egr cooler leaking internally as they've done a few on the police volvos but again relayed that to the garage and he said no wouldn't be that... got to go and pick car up. The problems started when I returned from holiday and had been towing a caravan so under load. I have asked about a pressure test but he just keeps saying he's tested the oil coolers.

[Semnoz]

Mine recently sprung a leak on a small hose that runs outside the EGR. It's completely hidden away, so the only way I could tell if coolant was leaking was to look around the steering rack/drive-shafts for dampness. I ended up putting some flourescent orange coolant, and this allowed me to see exactly where it was dripping from, but it was a pain to get to. Only cost me £15 for the hose in the end, so not too bad overall.

[bobsy852]

out of interest. If you have leaking COOLANT, why is the garage checking oil coolers? :/

I'd take all the covers off underneath and check that the radiator isnt at fault. Although good rads in these cars, as they get older they can start to sag at the bottom and leak. It can be difficult to spot in cars like Volvos as there so much in the way.
Another trick would be to park it on some cardboard for a bit somewhere dry and see if any water comes out.

As others have said, there are so many small hoses carrying coolant around it is bound to be difficult to find the leak. Start with the obvious ones and work backwards. May be get a pressure test done to check there isn't a huge failure of the head gasket.

Did you use the car for the holiday? Once (just once) i did a long journey in my D5 in HOT weather and when I came to next use the car the expansion tank was empty. Filled it up again and never had the problem since. I think i read it might be to do with the filler cap on the expansion tank but not sure. I had no signs of leaks either. Have you simply tried re-filling it and running it for a bit to see if it goes down? Or does it disappear straight away?

[Joe H]

Lee-
As others have said there are basic tests to do and given how little info the garage have provided, you really have to assume they have not done any of them.
If you are in Bedford these people are close enough to use and know Volvos thoroughly:
http://www.independentvolvoservices.com/

Joe

[Leethomp]

So the story continues. Got the car back from the garage today. Basically it is only losing a very small amount. I spoke to him about what he had done and he stated the following
The oil coolers were tested as apparently they can leak internally losing coolant but they were ok
He had used the chemical test in the expansion tank to sniff for possible head gasket problems and this proved negative
He had left the car idling for hours in his own words and the system is not pressurising. The hoses are soft to squeeze and no excess pressure in the header tank.
There is no sign of oil in the water or water in the oil.
The car is not overheating and runs like a dream.

In answer to your question Bob, funny enough my situation was exactly the same as yours. We had come back from holiday towing a caravan on a long journey in a lot of stationary traffic on a hot day. When we returned home car was fine with no issues. It then never got used for 2 days a s the same as you when I got in it then the coolant warning was on and the header tank was empty.

I'm really stumped now...

In answer to you Joe i have ring Tony at IVS and he is sure this model had an issue with the EGR cooler leaking internally so the search continues I suppose.

Just got a feeling it's going to be one of those issues never to be solved. ... perhaps there might be a xc70 going up for sale soon.. thanks for all the advice people anyway. It's very much appreciated

[Bigfella666]

Lee

Nah nah nah never take the negative approach !

I have inter alia a 96 850 T5 has leaked coolant for a good 3 years. In theory easy to trace, trace it can I !!

Monday stuck on M25 for an hour and a half in roasting weather, had bonnet up following day coolant had dropped from maximum to minimum. Did cambelt coiple of years ago, water pump sound ( 17ok ) and then could see no signs of leak. Head gasket test 109%

Keep driving monitor your coolant level and top up ad required at spec.

Could be wrong about your garage but getting very negative vibes. The difference between decent mechanic and monkey with a wrench often difficult to discern. As somebody who left his car for 6 months with an Indy not far from you only for mot fails to repeat themselves ( having paid for them to be done ) trust me I feel your painn !

[The vast minority]

Have you felt along the bottom of the rad at the foam strip to see if it is wet?

I just had all this crap with my 2012 XC 70. Mine however was significantly easier to trace in that it had a failed radiator which is in itself a load of crap for a car that 6 years ago cost the original owner what it did and has been meticulously maintained. After replacement of rad, it seemed to be loosing coolant still despite having done the work myself so knowing for a fact that it was done properly. This has now stopped and the level has stayed at max for the last 2 weeks of very arduous usage.


I have just returned today from 2 weeks towing the caravan over 1000 miles in the UK heat and my water loss issues appear to be over. I replaced the pressure cap with a new one from Volvo as a matter of course to eliminate it as a possibility. However, I wouldn't touch new a rad from Volvo if they gave one away free with free tickets to the world cup final included.

Your experience with the garage sounds rather unsatisfactory to me.

Good luck with it.