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Dear members,

My car has just started loosing coolant, but only a few inches down from the maximum level in the opaque plastic header tank. I top it up then after a few miles the warning light comes on and it's back to the same level. At the moment does not seem to be getting any worse.

Do I assume that there is a pipe attached somewhere at that level that is leaking? I hope that makes sense.

Do you think it will be I drive it for a bit and keep topping up until I can get it to my mechanic?

Thanks very much,
Tim.

Examine the small pipes around the neck of the tank. You will no doubt find cracks where the pipes join the tank. With age and heat, the plastic embrittles, breaks and causes leaks. Tanks only last about 70k miles on these cars and most of us with higher mileage cars will have found a need to fit a new tank at some point.

Mike K