Water Loss, During exceptional hot weather

[xmexclusive]

Hi All

Have been driving 3 different XM's over the last two weeks and all 3 have suddenly started to loose about 150ml of coolant when driven any distance. If topped up it just gets lost on the next run. If left then no further loss. Only seems to happen on the exceptionally hot days.
Anyone else noticed a similar problem?
I am going to buy some new radiator caps and see if this makes a difference as there is evidence that the coolant is coming out the rad cap overflow.

Regards

XMexc

[jorgy9]

Yes, my XM has always behaved like that, water level drops to a specific point -below the minimum specified-, sooner or faster, and it happens faster in hot days. I haven't investigated it though.

George

[mebedforduk]

Yep

Im sure Kev Petford kept an eye on his over a period of time a few years back

It would seem that the water level settles about 20mm below the top of the sticking up thing you can see when you look in.

Any excess water is shot out of the overflow when the car gets hot.

Saying that a new cap is worth the few pennies they cost. This is one of the things i do on a new car first service.

Mark

[jorgy9]

Exactly, about 20mm below the minimum. If this is a factory set up and not a fault, then probably means materials used in cooling system are so cheap they can't take too much pressure, then they have opted for a very conservative pressure management. F**k, having to add water after every trip, this reminds of the '70s, I think my next car will be of a German brand...

XMexclusive, what car was the reference to? Mine regards a 3lt...

George

[jorgy9]

I had a Renault Clio '91 1.4, it needed about 1 top-up PER YEAR, driven IN GREECE.
George

[xmexclusive]

Hi Jorge, Mark and All

Thanks for the responses. A good clean round the filler and a new rad cap seems worthwhile. I will do this when I get back from holiday.
It was a V6 auto and two 2.5's that I noticed this water loss on. It was more apparent on the 2.5's at start up because with the sensor on the front of the header tank accelerating or going up hill with it cold brought the low water light on.
Two of the cars are new to me and the other was waiting an insurance company decision so they did not benifit from my usual TLC.

Regards

XMexc

[techmanagain]

Am I tempting fate to say that I've never had any unaccountable water loss on XMs. One S1 diesel and three 2.5TD?

[jorgy9]

I wish you every luck!

George

[xmexclusive]

Hi techmanagain

It is a useful technical statement and may well indicate that my idea of TLC for an XM is not as close to the Citroen recommendations as it could be. When he examined it last week the insurance assessor did knock a bit of the value of the silver 2.5 for condition but at least they also set a low price on the salvage and are going to let me keep it for spares.

Regards

XMexc

[jorgy9]

Just in case, if u would be interested, Dj from XM-L is preparing to sell his 2 estates 2.5TD.

George

[Peter.N.]

All my 2.1 tds have used water to a greater or lesser extent until the present one. the head gasket failed last year it then used a great deal of water, but since I replaced it about 25k miles ago, I think I have only topped it up once in a year!

Peter.N.