Coolant Leak - suggested next steps?

[Gwest44]

Instead of going out in the coupe today I took the family wagon in order to accommodate the multiple children and dogs.

However in order to facilitate this trip I had to shuffle the car's around which meant moving the coupe off one drive and on to other.

When I got out I noticed a trail of what I initially thought was water from moving off one drive and reversing on to the other. However when we returned home it was still there and hadn't dried.

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So the first thing I checked was the oil level - but all seemed good.

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Next I checked the coolant level - definitely down on when I'd checked it last time

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But no coolant light so I thought I'd take it to the end of the road and back - as expected just before I got to reverse it back on the drive the coolant light was on

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So that finally brings me to my question - having had no previous issues what could have caused the car to drop the coolant like that and is there anything I can check from a DIY perspective before getting it down to my trusty mechanic

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[enuff_zed]

Expansion tank split is the favourite. Have a look down from the top and see if there is fluid below the tank on the undertray.

[Gwest44]

Expansion tank split is the favourite. Have a look down from the top and see if there is fluid below the tank on the undertray.

Thanks - I'll take a look tomorrow when the lights back

[bigwinn]

I’d say expansion tank to Garrie

I haven’t forgotten about your suspension…

Let me know if you need a hand with the tank if that’s what it is

[alane29]

1. expansion tank
2. thermostat

from experience both have gone on mine

[j3nks79]

You can pressurise the system and it will expose the leak. Kits available on eBay or a good garage will have one.

[alane29]

You can pressurise the system and it will expose the leak. Kits available on eBay or a good garage will have one.

the expansion tank leak was easy to find, the thermostat leak i needed to pressurise the system

[Gwest44]

Finally got the coupe in with my independent yesterday - he's a very busy boy that lad

Anyway he's diagnosed the issue as a split expansion tank - the replacement is due in Monday so hopefully it'll be back on the road early next week.

Thanks for all the responses - as my wife would say "it's not very often I'm wrong but I'm right again"