172 Radiator Leak

[Gaz_H]

Hi, came out this morning to find 4 separate areas were i appear to be losing fluid just below the radiator ( you can see it dripping from the lower grille in my pic below , I'm going to get it booked in at my local specialist however as this may not be till Tuesday will i still be able to drive the car by then ?
I've checked the coolant level and its dropped marginally from the Max were it had been sitting, I'll check it prior to leaving for the Garage also
I know my Pic doesn't tell the full story but are there any key differences from it being the Radiator and perhaps the Water Pump ?
If its the water pump is that able to be removed like the radiator without the need for a Cambelt / aux Belt change again
Pic of the leak below

I moved the car back to look were it was coming from so this Pic is the fluid lost within around 10mins of mecfirst spotting it ( when I came out this morning the loss of fluid was greater but had still originated from the 4 areas you see in the pics )

Any guidance would be great

 

[Chi]

Check coolant level.. Are you sure its coming from car? Move it to a dry spot and run engine. Call RAC they'll sort it for you..

 

[Gaz_H]

Check coolant level.. Are you sure its coming from car? Move it to a dry spot and run engine. Call RAC they'll sort it for you..

Thanks mate, ill tick it over once I'm back this afternoon, I looked at the coolant level this morning and it's moved a fraction if anything, it's weird as I never drive the car at all yesterday and then woke up this morning to find the leak, when I'm running the engine I guess I'm looking for abnormal temperature rise and possibly the loss of fluid increasing if it's the radiator ? Cheers

 

[Chi]

Dont wait for the temperature to go up. Also dont top up a hot engine with cool water..
Doesnt look like a lot of water there tbh. Coolant bottle level changes when its hot and cold.

 

[Gaz_H]

Dont wait for the temperature to go up. Also dont top up a hot engine with cool water..
Doesnt look like a lot of water there tbh. Coolant bottle level changes when its hot and cold.

thanks mate, I'll look once I'm back and hopefully get to the bottom of it, cheers

 

[Gaz_H]

Ok, came back and let the car run for 15mins, there was no increase in the loss of fluid / water , remaining a drip as it has been coming from the lip of the lower grille onto the road, switched on the AC and whilst I could hear it coming on there was no noticeable difference in the temp coming thru the heaters, the engine temp rose slowly and sat at mid way as it normally would so I'm thinking it may not be the radiator , anyone got similar experience or a suggestion ? Thanks

 

[Chi]

Might just be rain water pooling smell the water see if its coolant? Have a taste

 

[Gaz_H]

Might just be rain water pooling smell the water see if its coolant? Have a taste

Lol, well in the interests of solving what it is I had a taste , it's clear like water but has an oily feel and taste, I'm just back a drive and it seems to have stopped dripping and I've used no visible coolant which I hope is good news I've been reading old posts and it could perhaps be the AC condenser , ill hopefully have it booked at my local renault garage on Tuesday and let them have a look over it, cheers for the posts Chi

 

[Chi]

If its aircon dont worry.. Get aircon delete kit from pms.. Car will go faster

 

[Gaz_H]

I like the sound of that! plus I'm In Scotland so it's never warm enuf to need the AC on

 

[Chi]

Haha exactly.. Just open the window

 

[MarcB]

I would have tasted it and you have known if it was coolant or fluid.

You should know that us scottish (Edinburgh) junkies are use to stuff like this :rasp:

 

[Andy93]

The fluid line for the offside headlight washer runs through there as well. My old 172 used to leak from the back of the offside washer, the water would cling to the pipe until the lowest point (middle of the bumper) where it would drop on to the ground.