Lancia Cooling System Problems: Common Issues

Hi everyone!

Some time ago, I had problems with my coolant; the level was constantly decreasing.
After searching for a while, I found a loose hose clamp on a coolant hose and tightened it.
Then there was a period of calm.
Today, I checked, and the storage container is almost empty again...
'If there were at least some oil in the water, or if the diesel was producing white smoke, you could say, 'Okay, the head gasket is gone,' but there's nothing like that.'
Does anyone have any ideas?
I'm not sure if this is related, but the cap on the oil filler neck seems to be leaking, and it's leaking a significant amount of oil.
How can I tell if water has gotten into the oil?
My worst fear is that the ZK (turbocharger) has a hairline crack (like my old Renault did) and is slowly leaking water, causing it to vaporize without producing any visible smoke.
A faulty ZK/ZKD would be exactly what's needed right now .

I am grateful for any suggestions or tips!


P.S. Approximately how much would the repair cost?

Best regards,

Olli.
Please provide the German text you would like me to translate into English.
Cart:
Lancia Delta HPE tD 1.9L
167,000 km, year of manufacture 1995.

How can I tell if water has gotten into the oil?


Hi,

Check the area around the oil filler cap to see if there are any light brown or slimy deposits. A rising oil level, even if no oil has been added, is also a cause for concern.

First of all, thank you for the quick response.

Right now, I only have plain water in it, so without antifreeze, does that still cause these deposits? There's also a small issue with the coolant reservoir; there's a brown sludge in it everywhere. I've only had the car for a short time, and unfortunately, I don't know how long that sludge has been there... hopefully, I haven't been ripped off... I didn't notice the sludge when I bought the car *grumble*.

Regards,

Olli.

Hi,

The deposits should also form with pure water. If you absolutely can't find anything else, it's best to get a fluorescent liquid that you can add to the coolant. With the right lamp, the leak should then be easy to find. Somewhere in this forum, someone also mentioned where you can get this stuff.

Thank you, that's a good idea, I'll start looking for that stuff right away .

Regarding the deposits, as far as I can tell, the oil is clean, although it seems a bit thin. However, according to the note in the engine compartment, it's 5W40 low-viscosity oil. Shouldn't something thicker be used?

'If he managed to get all that water (which was 1-2 liters) into the oil, it should be quite full, but according to the dipstick, the oil level is in the good middle range, so it's not too low and not too full.'

Otherwise: Thank you!

Best regards,

Olli.