Malc_Bateman Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Hi,Can anyone advise me on the following problem - I took my "7" out for a 60 mile run last Sunday and on return home it deposited coolant on the garage floor. Difficult to ascertain how much, probably 150-200mls. I have checked all hoses etc., and have come to the conclusion it has come from the expansion tank.I have looked for a replacement tank / cap on the Caterham website and they don't have anything resembling that fitted to my car (1998 S3 Classic VX 1600 8 valve). Halfords have a new universal Cap for sale. Is it worth trying?Regards, Malc. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted January 28, 2015 Member Share Posted January 28, 2015 Had you been using it without problems soon before that? Anything unusual about the temperature on that run?There is something on the archives on this... I think it concluded that cap failure was quite common. Can't remember if alternatives were found.Is there a pressure value on the cap? Here's what I found in March 2014: "The current cap on the Caterham Parts website labelled "Cap - Expansion Bottle - All Cars Not CSR" and "Cap - Expansion Bottle - Rover and Sigma" has 110 kPa written on it. (About 1.1 bar.)". Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc_Bateman Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 Hi Jonathon,Thanks for quick reply. I recall you answered my query in 2012 re replacing the coolant and having done that exercise, since then in early Jan 2013 the car has been perfect on many runs. I suspect it is the cap, but can't find the spec or indeed anyone to supply anything other than Halfords Universal cap at £2.66p ! Is it worth a punt?Malc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted January 28, 2015 Member Share Posted January 28, 2015 My amendment crossed that! See above. Any cap that fits and has the same pressure limit should be fine.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc_Bateman Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 To clarify - car was perfect for 60 miles of North York Moors driving, temp gauge showing normal throughout, no steam & nothing to suggest anything untoward until in the garage. I also let the car idle for 5 minutes on the drive with the fan running to ensure gradual coolingMalc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc_Bateman Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 Hi Jonathon,Are the Caps normally marked with a spec. Halfords doesn't seem to list anything other than "it fits all".Malc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted January 28, 2015 Member Share Posted January 28, 2015 I don't know. Some do have a pressure marking on them.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 As it is a Vauxhall engine ... will it be a Vauxhall expansion bottle ... with a Vauxhall cap ? I'll point Terry at this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I was going to say 'headgasket', then I read you had a 8V Vauxhall. Phew! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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