coolant level

[dave123]

hi all I hope someone can help . this morning I took the wife to work and the coolant light kept flashing on . so when I got home I went to put coolant in and it about 1 and1/2 inches over the max. I took the cap of the rad and that is full to the brim and the cap is covered in brown rust . I cant smell oil or see in the expansion tank but it has the same rust in their too . I checked my oil level too that's fine and the oil cap is clean . I took the car out yesterday and drove it 60+ miles with nothing . what could this be

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

I may be barking up the wrong tree, but.... are you sure it is the "Coolant Level" indicator, the reason I ask, is I did not think they had a sensor for coolant level... Not one on My T2, anyway.

Could it be the washer fluid level, or the other light that tells you to drain the water out of the fuel filter?

 

[macabethiel]

levelswitch

Could be the coolant level switch. I would start by removing the header tank giving it a good wash out with a bottle brush and a soak with hot dishwashing solution. That might fix the switch if the float is gummed up.

 

[rustic]

...so when I got home I went to put coolant in and it about 1 and1/2 inches over the max...

Why is it so high? when hot is is often 1/2" over the max, what is it like when cold?

What ever the situation, monitor the temperature gauge, if it starts to rise above normal, investigate it immediately.


TIP:
With the cold weather coming, take a small sample of the coolant, place it in a plastic bottle, ( don't use the bottle for anything else after, as antifreeze is poisonous ) then place it in the freezer, leave it there over night.
if it is solid, then check the anti freeze strength, if mushy, it's probably ok, BUT really depends on the freezer temperature, if still liquid you should be able to drive to the arctic...:lol:lol

 

[dave123]

I may be barking up the wrong tree, but.... are you sure it is the "Coolant Level" indicator, the reason I ask, is I did not think they had a sensor for coolant level... Not one on My T2, anyway.

Could it be the washer fluid level, or the other light that tells you to drain the water out of the fuel filter?

I assume its coolant . it the light right at the top right cluster . if it's water in the fuel filter . what would cause this as I put a new filter on about 2 months ago

 

[Sweety]

I assume its coolant . it the light right at the top right cluster . if it's water in the fuel filter . what would cause this as I put a new filter on about 2 months ago

IIRC thats the warning light for the fuel filter ie theres water in it & it needs draining

Just checked mine & mine doesn't light up but have no wires on my filter so maybe Nissan were penny pinching again & left it off like other things

 

[Banshee]

IIRC thats the warning light for the fuel filter ie theres water in it & it needs draining

Yep, 100% Water in the fuel filter, use the white drain valve underneath the filter and let the water run out

 

[cncfabs]

I assume its coolant . it the light right at the top right cluster . if it's water in the fuel filter . what would cause this as I put a new filter on about 2 months ago

Shouldnt get water in diesel ive never had that in 25 years of driving diesels where do you fill it up

 

[dave123]

Shouldnt get water in diesel ive never had that in 25 years of driving diesels where do you fill it up

Tesco yesterday. so how the hell would water get in the fuel ?

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

I assume its coolant . it the light right at the top right cluster . if it's water in the fuel filter . what would cause this as I put a new filter on about 2 months ago

Well, as you have gathered, that is the filter light, not coolant... Good Guess from me...:lol :clap

I would first of all, drain it out using the little tap on the bottom, and see if there is actually any water in it.

If there is not, then the fact it is flicking on and off, could actually mean the cable to the sensor is pinched, or shorting somewhere, or the float did not properly returned to the bottom after you did the filter change.

If there is water, then it could be dodgy Diesel, we had a local garage at the bottom of the hill, that in the heavy rain, somehow got water into the tanks, and only knew when a load of cars all died as they pulled away. They had to have all the tanks drained...

Another way, could be you have a small hole in your line from the tank to the pump, and in all this rain, it has pulled some water in along with air, but you would normally have other clues as well, like it running like a dog.

 

[dave123]

Well, as you have gathered, that is the filter light, not coolant... Good Guess from me...:lol :clap

I would first of all, drain it out using the little tap on the bottom, and see if there is actually any water in it.

If there is not, then the fact it is flicking on and off, could actually mean the cable to the sensor is pinched, or shorting somewhere, or the float did not properly returned to the bottom after you did the filter change.

If there is water, then it could be dodgy Diesel, we had a local garage at the bottom of the hill, that in the heavy rain, somehow got water into the tanks, and only knew when a load of cars all died as they pulled away. They had to have all the tanks drained...

Another way, could be you have a small hole in your line from the tank to the pump, and in all this rain, it has pulled some water in along with air, but you would normally have other clues as well, like it running like a dog.

you say their would be other signs . would that be missing when you take your foot off the pedal and then just lightly putting it back on to plod along . it becomes jerky and puffs out smoke

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

you say their would be other signs . would that be missing when you take your foot off the pedal and then just lightly putting it back on to plod along . it becomes jerky and puffs out smoke

I have not had any experience of that yet, but I am sure others will be along to answer that properly. I did read the other day that white smoke can be a sign of water in the fuel, but it also can be a sign of other things as well. Having said that, white smoke once it is up to temp, and running, would more than likely be water.

I must say though, if there is water in the fuel, based on the weather we have been having, and those symptoms as well, I would be taking the advice of the members that say to fit some clear tubing to and from the filter, and start to look for bubbles in the fuel. Or... just get under and have a good look at the fuel lines, I think a leak should be reasonably easy to locate if you pay proper attention to the whole line. The bit where it passes over the rear axle is the spot to look at.

 

[Banshee]

you say their would be other signs . would that be missing when you take your foot off the pedal and then just lightly putting it back on to plod along . it becomes jerky and puffs out smoke

Def sounding like water in the fuel now mate!!!!

 

[cncfabs]

Tesco yesterday. so how the hell would water get in the fuel ?

Tesco diesel is crap my fourtrak wont run on it missfires and smokes like f*** google tesco diesel loads of complaints about it,well worth paying couple pence more for proper stuff

 

[solarman216]

if water has got as far as the pump, then you possibly have a very serious problem, and you may have to budget for a replacement, on fly by wire pumps wires sit in the derv, if contaminated with water, corrosion takes place very quickly and wires fall off inside the pump, Rick

 

[dave123]

thanks for everyone help . I drained it and their was no water . so that good . now I just got to find out whats faulty ( wire or sensor ) thanks again

 

[Banshee]

thanks for everyone help . I drained it and their was no water . so that good . now I just got to find out whats faulty ( wire or sensor ) thanks again

if there's no water then it's def going to be the float sensor, I had this with my brake fluid sensor, the float was stuck right down at the bottom after bleeding my brakes after a disc and pad change, I ended up getting a stick and tappingit and as if by magic it floated back to the top :thumb2

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

thanks for everyone help . I drained it and their was no water . so that good . now I just got to find out whats faulty ( wire or sensor ) thanks again

That is a "the good news is.. but the bad news is" post...:lol

Now you still need to find out why she is running lumpy...

For an easy start on the warning light, assuming the light is off when the sensor is disconnected, I would unplug the sensor, and see how it is for a day or two with it disconnected, at least that gives you a direction to look in.

When I first changed my filter, it had obviously not been done for a very long time, and you could see the float had a scummy jelly like mixture all around it.. I used WD40, to flush it out, and clean it up.

 

[Fez_uk]

when did you change the filter? if recently it could be letting water in, also check fuel lines near rear arch along the chassis.

 

[dave123]

when did you change the filter? if recently it could be letting water in, also check fuel lines near rear arch along the chassis.

about 2 months ago . the only thing I noticed was when I drain the fuel it had grit in it. what sizes are the two little fuel lines by the filter and where can I get it from?