Coolant Level Issues: Seeking Advice

[Dan B]

Scooter took a flatbed ride to MINI of San Francisco today after I discovered this weekend that his coolant reservoir was completely empty. I added almost a quart of coolant before the level was back up to the minimum level on the reservoir. I check all Scooter's fluids on a weekly basis, i.e. about every 100 miles. Last week his coolant was steady between the min and max level marks. There have been no significant sudden shifts in his coolant level until now.
I idled Scooter until he reached normal operating temperature after adding coolant and found no evidence of leaks, but MINI USA concurred that a flatbed ride to the dealer would be better than driving him there. I have had no elevated operating temperature levels, nor has Scooter's overtemp light come on. There is also no direct evidence of coolant leakage into the oil. (No sign of coolant on the dip stick. No post warm up smoke. No rough running. No unusual exhaust smell.)

It won't be until tomorrow before the dealership has a chance to check this out further, but the service rep has already prepared me for them to find no problems. He said this type of situation will happen even in a closed cooling system such as the MINI's. If they run a pressure test and find no problems, they can take no corrective action.

I need some advice from fellow Motorers...
It seems that a closed cooling system should not loose coolant, that it should all be reclaimed. I've driven for 40 years and am quite clear on the concept of checking the coolant...and I thought I understood how a closed cooling system functions.

Any advice or responses from those who might have experienced similar problems? By the way, Scooter is an '02 MC with a production date of 5-02.

Thanks,

Dan

[Rich.Wolfson]

My guess is that there is no problem particularly if you have not overheated. Sometimes the power steering fan will lock blowing a 5 amp fuse and the Mini will overheat in traffic or while idleing but you have not described any of that.

Since you have an 02 and didn't say if your coolant tank was ever replaced I would press them to do that as it undoubtedly has the old pre-redesigned one.

That's my 2 cents.

Rich

[SFJAMES]

yeah, you will be ok. Here is what Brutus has had done to him... First had them changed defective coolant tank that leaks from the seam (I noticed, not dealer). A couple of months later I notice a leak dripping from the front of the engine, not from rear where coolant tank is and note that my car was cold, just pulled out of garage. I checked it out and found a leak around where the thermostat mount is. Sure enough that was the one, some O-ring in there that they said did not seat properly when installed. It had been leaking for awhile though, I could not tell before because after the engine gets to temp., its burns it off before it can leak at the bottom and we can notice. Mention that O-ring, others have had same issue. take care and btw, I'm in the City too, need to hook up sometime.