1990 Daihatsu Charade

ANTONIO32

MEMBER
1990 DAIHATSU CHARADE
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
60,000 MILES

Hi guys, for the first ~5' after I start the car, I can hear a bubbling noise from under the bonet; the car "uses" water somehow, with no apparent leak.
I have to keep adding water to the reservoir otherwise it overheats. Aslo for the first time yesterday I noticed oil-mud like stuff on the radiator cap. Also for the first time I heard water gushing out 1' after I switched the engine off, rashed out, saw the water leaking from somewhere near the bottom of the engine, not from the radiator; by the time I got under (2'), everything was dry and couldn't locate the exact leaking spot.
What do you think the problem is?
thanks a lot

7 Replies

DAVE H

MECHANIC
13,384 POSTS

Your head gasket has blown and needs replacing?

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Sunday, November 9th, 2008 AT 8:39 PM

ANTONIO32

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I think it's about to go since there is some mud on the radiator cap, there is no water in the engine though (yet?) And the compression is as good as ever. The question remains where is the water going? No leaks, nothing. Someone suggested a pressure test and I think that's what I will do next.

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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 AT 5:46 PM

DAVE H

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The water is getting blown out of the exhaust when your running the vehicle. I think a compression test is a good idea. Sometimes it will throw water out of the radiator relief pipe. But it is mainly being blown out of the exhaust have you noticed any white smoke. That is actually steam

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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 AT 5:53 PM

ANTONIO32

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At last today, I went to town, parked, went away for 15' and when I came back, there was a big leak which led back to the reservoir overflow little pipe ! The reservoir was completely empty! How can that be? The overflow pipe is 3'' higher than the one coming from the radiator.

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Friday, November 14th, 2008 AT 6:16 AM

DAVE H

MECHANIC
13,384 POSTS

As I said in my previous post water will escape through the radiator/expansion tank relief pipe. Your getting a back pressure and it is throwing water out this pipe. Your head gasket has blown?