Thread: TD5 overflow and cap/tank system and overheating

Hi all, below is something I posted on another thread but no responses probably due to it had run it's course, anyway I understand that the TD5 won't like any episodes of overheating as opposed to some cars that seem to be able to run dry and never die, anyways, here is the info on an incident I had and my questions about it, I have been driving now for over a month since with no issue albeit I am not towing.

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I just travelled 4500 km towing 2 tonne, on the last 100 ks just near home, I stopped and was idling for about 15 mins, anyways, I noticed a small amount of fluid under the car, had no AC on so I know it was from the overflow most likely.

Anyway, whilst waiting on someone, I opened th e hood & decided to look at and top up the reservoir, no drama, did not take much fluid at all.

Got back in and drove about 500m, stopped for a min, then went to continue, I noticed the guage went above its usual half way to about 3/4, pulled off the road and shut down straight away as is a TD5.

On looking again underneath, heaps of water....uh oh I am thinking, but at least I saw it before overheating.

Got out the water, topped up again once idling then proceeded to a station as needed fuel as well, I looked back when at the station and water everywhere trailing behind, but could not see where it was coming from when idle.

let cool down, topped up again, moved 20m and again water.

Still no sign of where it was coming from, but could see most was around reservoir side, when topping up this time, as doing up the cap, I saw it start pouring out the overflow tube...mmm

I was a bit stuck, needed to get home, no evidence of major breakage or where this water was really coming from, decided to fill as much as possible & this time I tightened cap as much as possible, and headed out watching the temp indicators.

was straight onto a very steep hill that climbs a mountain, anyways, if it was going to loose all the water again, it would happen there, to my surprise, climbed hill and made it all teh way home and a week later still no real hard evidence of what went on.

All I can surmise is that the overflow tank and cap were hot from towing then idling, once I opened the cap I must never have secured it properly due to both materials being hot and that causing me to think I had tightened enough.
edit ====

The hill BTW was Mt Victoria, a real bugger if it had of still been leaking.

Do these expansions tanks and caps have a habit of this problem or faults ? I do believe now I must not have tightened enough.

And a follow on would be, I want to remove and change coolant etc, is there anything from supercheap etc that is ok for the TD5, from what I read these engines seem to be a bit sensitive and need TLC

Looks like you found you issue the expansion tank cap
They can give the impression of being tight but not quiet there.

Caps can fail at the Viton seals
Upper ID 24mm 3mm thick
Lower ID 22mm 3mm thick
Or in the valve

Caps are a service item best to change out at every coolant change period with if you use the recommend OAT type should be every five years MAX
50/50 mix should be fine for most climates total capacity of TD5 12litres best to drain old stuff out refill with good clean fresh distilled water and run for a couple of days to flush system then change to your new coolant

Lots of info on net about refilling etc

Hope this helps

Pete