Dane cowan Posted December 10, 2018 Report Share Posted December 10, 2018 Hi there - new here. Heres the story summarised - my elderly neighbour asked me to start and run her car daily to keep the battery charged as shes hurt her back and is housebound. I’m concerned about the car catching on fire...the coolant is below the minimum and there is consistent white smoke coming from the exhaust...the smoke isn’t huge but i feel scared of the car catching on fire, theres no white froth on the oil cap and the exhaust emissions symbol has indeed gone away, any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2 Posted December 10, 2018 Report Share Posted December 10, 2018 Welcome to club lupo sounds like everything is ok. Just top up the coolant with a bit of water and it'll be fine. but engines don't like being started from cold and run every now and then (just idling without being driven). The trick is to take the car for a good half hour drive till it gets properly warmed up, then park it with a hot engine and leave it for up to six months. Ideally with the battery disconnected. The condensation (combustion products) in the exhaust affects all the internal components. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mscherryviolet Posted December 10, 2018 Report Share Posted December 10, 2018 What he said ^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane cowan Posted December 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2018 That’s great thanks - is there a specific type of coolant i can put into it? 1.0 MPI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2 Posted December 11, 2018 Report Share Posted December 11, 2018 If the level is going down, there's probably a small leak. Usually its a classic Vdub seal failure between the alloy cylinder head and a plastic hose flange. They fitted little rubber rings that go inside the plastic hose mounts that go brittle, shrink a bit then allow a very slow drip drip drip of coolant. You don't ever get a puddle under the car, just a very fine misting or damp area around the leak. For the time being just top up with water or pink coolant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted December 11, 2018 Report Share Posted December 11, 2018 Distilled water will be fine. It's about 1 pound a bottle from Tesco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 11, 2018 Report Share Posted December 11, 2018 Check for pink crystals if you suspect a leak. If you have a dedicated humidifier then just use the water from that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mscherryviolet Posted December 11, 2018 Report Share Posted December 11, 2018 What they said ^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane cowan Posted December 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2018 Great, thanks everyone for their suggestions! I had originally thought it was a head gasket failure until i learned about those little rubber rings, hell i may even give fixing it a go, any hints/tips? Furthermore, I’d like to learn more about the car - is it just me or is the bonnet release really really stiff, so much so the handle has actually come off a bunch?! Finally, im hearing a slight whirring noise when revving the engine slightly, it comes and goes and sounds like morse code in terms of the pattern, any ideas? Its not a belt i don’t think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane cowan Posted December 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2018 Oh! And one more question, is the steering hydraulic or EPAS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 12, 2018 Report Share Posted December 12, 2018 Hydraulic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2 Posted December 13, 2018 Report Share Posted December 13, 2018 8 hours ago, Dane cowan said: Great, thanks everyone for their suggestions! I had originally thought it was a head gasket failure until i learned about those little rubber rings, hell i may even give fixing it a go, any hints/tips? Furthermore, I’d like to learn more about the car - is it just me or is the bonnet release really really stiff, so much so the handle has actually come off a bunch?! Finally, im hearing a slight whirring noise when revving the engine slightly, it comes and goes and sounds like morse code in terms of the pattern, any ideas? Its not a belt i don’t think That hose flange costs pennies- like £3 from ECP or someone. But you can ghetto fix it ( @Skezza 's favourite method) using some stixall. Clean it well and dry before you do it though... whirring could be leaves in the alternator or a rattly loose cam belt cover. Usually something plastic in the engine bay? It's worth tracking it down though just in case something potentially serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted December 13, 2018 Report Share Posted December 13, 2018 As much as I do love ghetto fixing stuff, I think I'd probably just replace the hose flange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mscherryviolet Posted December 13, 2018 Report Share Posted December 13, 2018 What he said ^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2 Posted December 13, 2018 Report Share Posted December 13, 2018 9 hours ago, Skezza said: As much as I do love ghetto fixing stuff, I think I'd probably just replace the hose flange. But you're the master of improvisation... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane cowan Posted December 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2018 Great folks thank you so much, i tell you what I’ll take a video highlighting the noise im having a problem with tonight 😄😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted December 14, 2018 Report Share Posted December 14, 2018 14 hours ago, mk2 said: But you're the master of improvisation... Haha, not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing. Improv = bodging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 14, 2018 Report Share Posted December 14, 2018 You shouldn't be messing with the elderly neighbours car if you don't know what you're doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mscherryviolet Posted December 14, 2018 Report Share Posted December 14, 2018 I would just allow it to go on fire.... crispy OAP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2 Posted December 14, 2018 Report Share Posted December 14, 2018 Improv means engineering spirit is alive and well. Engineering design is improv after all. Using and improving what was there before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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