Honda/k series coolant system

[Dipper]

Ive been having some issues with the coolant in my honda'd Elise. After the last track day I noticed the expansion bottle was empty. temps were rock solid all day. Since then I've been loosing and seemingly gaining coolant! Yesterday I did a 200mile run to torridon. When I left, the expansion vessel was at min. When I arrived at torridon it was above Max with evidence it had been leaking out the top cap.

This morning it's settled out about an inch above max. Last time it did this I took some coolant out to take it back between min and max. After a run and cool down the bottle was empty so I'm reluctant to do that again!

Any ideas?

[BiggestNizzy]

Replace the cap

[robin]

You need to compare levels at like temperatures - i.e. always check it cold or always check it hot.

If the cap fails and the coolant boils then you'll get funny behaviour as there will be water vapour in the system which can make the coolant level appear to rise permanently.

When working properly the level should be somewhere around min when cold and somewhere around max when hot, but this is not a science - each car is a bit different.

Cheers,
Robin

[Dipper]

Cheers. Sounds like an easy fix! I thought the cap was designed to allow excess pressure/coolant to escape.

[BiggestNizzy]

It is but treat them like a consumable they do fail but they are only a few pounds.

[Dipper]

Perfect. Ordered one from Elise parts.

[Dipper]

Cap fitted today and works a treat! Glad it wasn't something serious:)
Cheers