peeblesman Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 can any one tell me ...... looked at an 59 plate l200 4 life today...only done 59k miles... when I looked under the bonnet the cap was missing off the expansion bottle... the bloke selling told me that it has allways been missing ....but never over heated or caused any probs... he said the expansion tank isn't pressurised... is this true ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 (edited) can any one tell me ...... looked at an 59 plate l200 4 life today...only done 59k miles... when I looked under the bonnet the cap was missing off the expansion bottle... the bloke selling told me that it has allways been missing ....but never over heated or caused any probs... he said the expansion tank isn't pressurised... is this true ? Sounds like BS to me, surely it's a vain hope that the pressure releases from the system by not having the cap on? Perhaps hiding a head gasket faliure... Edited January 14, 2015 by Mentalmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farcombehall Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 Could be genuine but if there's a problem with the head gasket the top is normally removed to stop the pressure blowing bubble in the header tank, a common problem with these vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryanb Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 it depends on the cooling system. If there's a cap on top of the radiator then the expansion bottle is not pressurised. If there's no cap then the expansion bottle is pressurised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peeblesman Posted January 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 cheers guys..going to check with Mitsubishi tomorrow..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil82 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 most modern ,cars and trucks have a pressurised cooling system, higher pressure increases the boiling point of the water, anything up to 20 psi nowadays, if the cap is missing I would think he`s trying to cover up a fault and walk away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryanb Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 most modern ,cars and trucks have a pressurised cooling system, higher pressure increases the boiling point of the water, anything up to 20 psi nowadays, if the cap is missing I would think he`s trying to cover up a fault and walk away[/quote Neil82 it's true what you say but most pick ups are not modern. The expansion tank on most pick ups are not pressurised hence that's why they have push fit caps and not screw on types. A push fit cap could not hold the pressure in the system. The expansion tank is there to add coolant to the system as the level rises and falls with pressure differences. The cap is there to stop **** getting in that's all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) As Neil has said, also the L200 (mine anyway which is a 05 plate) has a screwed plastic cap, how was the expansion pipe kept in the bottle? One of the signs of a head and/or gasket problem is the expansion pipe will be blowing gas bubbles into the coolant in the bottle. If you are unsure walk away, there are plenty of them about. Might be worth joining this site http://www.l200forum.com/ Edited January 15, 2015 by rimotu66 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 Sounds like a bubbles job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 One fun one would be to get a cap from someone with one and take it to him and do a nice long test drive with him in the car ensuring that the fans are off etc... Out of interest, did you look at the dipstick or inside oil filler cap at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peeblesman Posted January 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 nope it was snowing so wasn't as thorough as normal...whats worse I gave him a £500 deposit to get it MOt and serviced.... he is now refusing to refund any part of my deposit.. looks like small claims court here we come !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 On an 09 the pipe comes in the bottom of the tank and it has a very small plastic cap. Personally I wouldn't panic yet get him to put a new cap on it while doing the mot and get it sniff tested to prove it's not head gasket. The other thing is if it has gone you will see marks below the tank overflow pipe from where it has been blowing coolant onto the inner wing. Of course it could be completely innocent and someone forgotten to do it up after checking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 l200 screw cap = pressurised header tank I find it hard to comprehend why he would run it without cap as the cooling system is designed to have it to allow system to operate correctly . may be genuine ................but I doubt it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.