Worst news we could have had for the van loosing coolant. Two leaks; one from the water pump, the other from the radiator.
We noticed the drop when doing the daily check after a night in Valladolid. The reservoir was almost empty. So filled it up half way between the min and max level. There was a pool of coolant near the offside front wheel. Looked into the engine bay and couldn't see any obvious source of leaking. Got under the van and looked up and again, nothing obvious. Felt all flexible pipes from the radiator feeling for splits and leaks but nothing.
So pressed on southwards, keeping an eye on the temperature guage. It was normal, the position being about half way up the "dial". When we stopped the evening at Belmonte, the level had dropped to the minimum level. So topped up with coolant to the midway point again. In the morning, again a small pool of coolant by the offside front wheel.
Kept topping up and keeping an eye on the temperature guage until we reached Armacao de Peres in Portugal and booked it into a recommended garage. They did a pressure check with me watching and the mechanic showed me the two leaks. The work will take 2 days (including waiting for parts ordered and fitting). They have offered us hookup and water and we have gratefully accepted. I'm only writing this boring account to get it out of my system and to warn others, if loosing coolant, to have it checked before setting off.
It's only money! There are far worse things happening as we overheard in Aldi. Some Brits have been taken ill and are having someone come out from the UK to drive the motorhome back whilst the ill one is in hospital. We're counting our blessings!
We noticed the drop when doing the daily check after a night in Valladolid. The reservoir was almost empty. So filled it up half way between the min and max level. There was a pool of coolant near the offside front wheel. Looked into the engine bay and couldn't see any obvious source of leaking. Got under the van and looked up and again, nothing obvious. Felt all flexible pipes from the radiator feeling for splits and leaks but nothing.
So pressed on southwards, keeping an eye on the temperature guage. It was normal, the position being about half way up the "dial". When we stopped the evening at Belmonte, the level had dropped to the minimum level. So topped up with coolant to the midway point again. In the morning, again a small pool of coolant by the offside front wheel.
Kept topping up and keeping an eye on the temperature guage until we reached Armacao de Peres in Portugal and booked it into a recommended garage. They did a pressure check with me watching and the mechanic showed me the two leaks. The work will take 2 days (including waiting for parts ordered and fitting). They have offered us hookup and water and we have gratefully accepted. I'm only writing this boring account to get it out of my system and to warn others, if loosing coolant, to have it checked before setting off.
It's only money! There are far worse things happening as we overheard in Aldi. Some Brits have been taken ill and are having someone come out from the UK to drive the motorhome back whilst the ill one is in hospital. We're counting our blessings!
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