Loosing Coolant - but not head, cant spot leak - any ideas? (thermostat?)

[l1ndon]

I have a 99 Mazda 323 protege 1.6 auto saloon

I just got it from a friend, and its loosing coolant quite fast.

There's no obvious signs that its the head - oil looks good, no white smoke, drives well, and I cant find any any leaks anywhere (though that dosent mean there isnt any I suppose)

So what should I start looking at -

Is there a simple diagnostic process.

Anyone had any similar experiences

thanks for any help - I'm a total Mazda newbie, though I understand basic mechanics

 

[tweety2300]

First do a radiator compression test, and a cylinder compression test. Just cause it don't smoke or has milky oil doesn't mean it's not a head gasket. Unless its over hearing its not evaporating so it has to be going somewhere, and if its not leaking on the ground or in oil it's going through the exhaust

 

[l1ndon]

Thanks for that - Ive been messing with it all day, and now have located a leak roughly on the drivers side about half way back, dripping on the plastic tray - Is that likely to be the water pump? How do I check - or are there any pipes round there that might leak

 

[Lexxi_TegK24]

Bringing it back since I have the same problem...

The car runs but it doesn't run very well. It occasionally smokes but not always and it isn't super noticeable. No oil in the coolant and no visible leaks.

How is it best to determine what's happening in this situation?

 

[xtreme velocity]

What color is the smoke? And does it do it when car is cold, warm, idle, or under throttle? Any visable leaks? And when you say does not run well what do you mean? Usually if car runs bad and loosing coolant typically points to head gasket.

 

[lolwut]

You can buy a simple radiator compression tester at any auto parts store, should only lost like, 20 bucks.