Let's Hear About Your R53's

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If the heads gone you will get “mayonnaise” in the oil filler cap
Thermostat is t difficult to change.
Are these engines prone to head gasket failure like the Rover K series?

 

You’d written your message inside my quoted message.

 

I once had a problem on a different car where it was losing coolant without there being a leak in the system, which was caused by progressive dilution of the anti-freeze/water mix. Anti-feeeze doesn’t just guard against freezing by lowering the freezing point, it also raises the heat capacity of the coolant by raising the boiling point. Over the years, if the coolant isn’t flushed and replaced regularly and especially if it keeps getting topped up with water, the boiling point gets lower and lower. As a result of this, coolant boils off now and again, so you top it up with water, which then lowers the boiling point still further and increases the likelihood of further boiling and coolant loss.

If you can drop the coolant and replace it with fresh stuff or failing that, top up the system with neat anti-freeze in order to get as close to the correct proportions as you can, that might fix the issue until you can have the system flushed and refilled properly

 

Sounds like you have very little in the system so call your boy and ask him to swing by Halfrauds and pick some up for you. They generally close at 5pm on Sundays so you've got an hour! If possible get the pink ready diluted stuff so the proportions are correct, and you simply put it in... A bonus is the pink is the easiest colour to spot when looking for leaks as the dried residue is also pinkish.

If you don't find the leak yourself, just get it pressure tested at a garage. Any leaks will then be found immediately. Radiators can develop hairline cracks that don't leak until the engine is fully hot causing the aluminium to expand. Same kinda thing often with hoses too.

 

Good luck with spotting that on a black hose, almost no residue colouration.

 

Fat fingers using a phone!

 

Blue is usually Glycol? Pink is OAT?
Was it changed at some point? These shouldn’t be mixed

 

For unwanted guess's when they pop round for a coffee.

 

No idea if this is worth going to, but its on soon

https://www.carsceneinternational.c...b-event/british-mini-day-at-himley-hall-2023/

 

That’s very close to me

 

Was the coolant the same temperature both times when you checked, as it expands when heated.