Hi everyone mine seems to use a lot of water. it's not leaking anywhere.
Has any one any ideas as to what might be the problem I realise the
mileage is a bit high but that shouldn't be the main factor should it?

"wenden1"  wrote in message 
news:83b4b9b862305e6d26389094586dcaa0@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...

> Hi everyone mine seems to use a lot of water. it's not leaking anywhere.
> Has any one any ideas as to what might be the problem I realise the
> mileage is a bit high but that shouldn't be the main factor should it?
>


110K isn't high these days. But rubber perishes with age and tho' you say 
it's not leaking anywhere, are you absolutely sure? How much water do you 
get through per 100 miles? I suffered water loss and eventually discovered 
that the water pump leaked only in one position. I found this out because 
one day when it was stationary I saw water dripping out. Turn the engine 
slightly and it stopped.

Maybe there's a leak in the heater matrix. This isn't always easy to see. 
Keep the heater on *cold* and see if this reduces the water consumption.

Rob Graham

The message <dbfgf4$dcv$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com>
from "Rob graham"  contains these words:



> Keep the heater on *cold* and see if this reduces the water consumption.


Out of interest, how would that help? Even if it's the sort with a tap
in the water flow the /other/ end of the matrix is still connected to
the water system so the static pressure will be the same so any leak
will be just as bad. 
I've never seen a heater with two taps to isolate it completely, except
aftermarket additional heaters in minibuses and the like.

-- 
Skipweasel.
Ivor Cutler - "Never knowingly understood."

"Guy King"  wrote in message 
news:313030303432373942DB65E286@zetnet.co.uk...

> The message <dbfgf4$dcv$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com>
> from "Rob graham"  contains these words:
>
>
>> Keep the heater on *cold* and see if this reduces the water consumption.
>
> Out of interest, how would that help? Even if it's the sort with a tap
> in the water flow the /other/ end of the matrix is still connected to
> the water system so the static pressure will be the same so any leak
> will be just as bad.
> I've never seen a heater with two taps to isolate it completely, except
> aftermarket additional heaters in minibuses and the like.
>


No, you're right. Don't know why I said that. However, it could be possible 
to short circuit the heater with a length of hose if the OP wants to go to 
such lengths.

Rob

The message <dbg3fi$mc$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com>
from "Rob graham"  contains these words:


> No, you're right. Don't know why I said that. However, it could be possible 
> to short circuit the heater with a length of hose if the OP wants to go to 
> such lengths.


I've done it before now to put off the dreadful day when the dashboard
had to come out.

-- 
Skipweasel.
Ivor Cutler - "Never knowingly understood."

> I've done it before now to put off the dreadful day when the dashboard
> had to come out.
>


I know! God knows why manufacturers have to tuck them away like this. I 
think at least they could put some sort of access door in the front of the 
bulkhead.

Rob

"Rob graham"  wrote in message
news:dbgipr$ibk$1@nwrdmz02.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

> > I've done it before now to put off the dreadful day when the dashboard
> > had to come out.
> >
>
> I know! God knows why manufacturers have to tuck them away like this. I
> think at least they could put some sort of access door in the front of the
> bulkhead.


You'll be wanting a (real) Mini then. couple of screws, couple of botls, and
the whole thing drops nicely down from under the dash.

"Stuffed"  wrote in message 
news:dbgjdj$61i$1@news.freedom2surf.net...

>
> "Rob graham"  wrote in message
> news:dbgipr$ibk$1@nwrdmz02.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...
>> > I've done it before now to put off the dreadful day when the dashboard
>> > had to come out.
>> >
>>
>> I know! God knows why manufacturers have to tuck them away like this. I
>> think at least they could put some sort of access door in the front of 
>> the
>> bulkhead.
>
> You'll be wanting a (real) Mini then. couple of screws, couple of botls, 
> and
> the whole thing drops nicely down from under the dash.
>
>

Sounds good to me.

Rob

The message <dbgjdj$61i$1@news.freedom2surf.net>
from "Stuffed"  contains these words:


> You'll be wanting a (real) Mini then. couple of screws, couple of botls, and
> the whole thing drops nicely down from under the dash.


Or, if the bloke who had the car before you didn't put it back in
properly, it drops out half way round Hangar Lane Gyratory Wossname.

-- 
Skipweasel.
Ivor Cutler - "Never knowingly understood."

"Stuffed"  wrote in message
news:dbgjdj$61i$1@news.freedom2surf.net...

>
> "Rob graham"  wrote in message
> news:dbgipr$ibk$1@nwrdmz02.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...
> > > I've done it before now to put off the dreadful day when the dashboard
> > > had to come out.
> > >
> >
> > I know! God knows why manufacturers have to tuck them away like this. I
> > think at least they could put some sort of access door in the front of
the
> > bulkhead.
>
> You'll be wanting a (real) Mini then. couple of screws, couple of botls,
and
> the whole thing drops nicely down from under the dash.
>

real Mini ? two words ----bypass hose
possibly the most evil two inches of rubber known to mankind probably harder
to replace than an Astra heater matrix even if you cheat and use an
aftermarket concertina hose
Derek

"Derek"  wrote in message
news:CHgDe.3500$Hd4.3331@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...

>
> "Stuffed"  wrote in message
> news:dbgjdj$61i$1@news.freedom2surf.net...

> > You'll be wanting a (real) Mini then. couple of screws, couple of botls,
> and
> > the whole thing drops nicely down from under the dash.
> >
> real Mini ? two words ----bypass hose
> possibly the most evil two inches of rubber known to mankind probably
harder
> to replace than an Astra heater matrix even if you cheat and use an
> aftermarket concertina hose


Metro/ Allegro water pump and head. Or Metro/ Allegro pump, and large bolt
fitted to bypass hole in head. Plus a 3/8 drill bit used to put about half a
dozen holes in the thermostat.

Voila, no bypass hose anymore, and a far better pump if you pay a couple of
quid more for an uprated one :)

The message <CHgDe.3500$Hd4.3331@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net>
from "Derek"  contains these words:


> possibly the most evil two inches of rubber known to mankind probably harder
> to replace than an Astra heater matrix even if you cheat and use an
> aftermarket concertina hose


I found the concertina one really easy. Anyway it's the work of a few
minutes to take the head off.

-- 
Skipweasel.
Ivor Cutler - "Never knowingly understood."

Hi Rob,
Thanks for your reply.
I'm using around a ltr of water per 100 miles.
I don't know too much about diesels but it seems excesive.
I've watched for drips but haven't seen any as yet.
keeping the heater on cold doesn't seem to make any difference either
way.
I've fitted a new thermostatt which seems to have helped a little but am
still using more on warm days.
 Cheers Dennis

On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 15:44:59 +0000 (UTC), "Rob graham"
 wrote:


>> I've done it before now to put off the dreadful day when the dashboard
>> had to come out.
>>
>
>I know! God knows why manufacturers have to tuck them away like this. I 
>think at least they could put some sort of access door in the front of the 
>bulkhead.
>

It is said of the Saab 9000 that the car was built around the heater
matrix! But OTOH is is also possible to remove said matrix from under
the bonnet...
-- 
Regards,  Chris    (Please take out my car to reply by email)     
----1961 Austin A40 Farina----1966 Triumph Herald Estate---
---1967 Riley Elf---1965 Hillman Minx---1969 Morris Minor--
-1972 Mini Clubman estate--1957 Standard 8--1979 Ford Capri
    ********** Please don't email in HTML! **********

On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 08:22:26 +0100, Guy King 
wrote:


>The message <CHgDe.3500$Hd4.3331@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net>
>from "Derek"  contains these words:
>
>> possibly the most evil two inches of rubber known to mankind probably harder
>> to replace than an Astra heater matrix even if you cheat and use an
>> aftermarket concertina hose
>
>I found the concertina one really easy. Anyway it's the work of a few
>minutes to take the head off.


Just the expense of a new gasket though ;-)

But you're right about the A-series head, which on a Marina I managed to
remove and replace in 45 minutes even on a warm engine. Compared with
two days just to remove from a Merc 230...
-- 
Regards,  Chris    (Please take out my car to reply by email)     
----1961 Austin A40 Farina----1966 Triumph Herald Estate---
---1967 Riley Elf---1965 Hillman Minx---1969 Morris Minor--
-1972 Mini Clubman estate--1957 Standard 8--1979 Ford Capri
    ********** Please don't email in HTML! **********

On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:14:26 GMT, "Derek" 
wrote:



>>
>real Mini ? two words ----bypass hose
>possibly the most evil two inches of rubber known to mankind probably harder
>to replace than an Astra heater matrix even if you cheat and use an
>aftermarket concertina hose
>Derek
>

The trick is to use a carefully-cut length of heater hose and compress
it lengthways in a vice overnight before fitting it!
-- 
Regards,  Chris    (Please take out my car to reply by email)     
----1961 Austin A40 Farina----1966 Triumph Herald Estate---
---1967 Riley Elf---1965 Hillman Minx---1969 Morris Minor--
-1972 Mini Clubman estate--1957 Standard 8--1979 Ford Capri
    ********** Please don't email in HTML! **********