1983 1800 drinking water

[Al Blake]

We have a 1983 1800 wagon which has done about 250,000 kms.
Car starts reliably and drives ok *but* it is using a lot of water.
Filled it up last week and it has used 2-3 litres in 5 days!
I have spent hours searching for leaks (including using flouro dye) and cant
find any....so I am wondering whether the problem is in the cylinder head(s)
but when I do a compression test I get:

150,155,145,150 psi for the 4 cylinders.

Question: Is it possible to have a cylinder head leak that would use lots of
water *without* having a noticable drop in compression?
(when I have had head gaskets go in the past the car wont start and/or the
compression drop is big).

Anyone seen this before? Needless to say I have checked the water pump
(replaced 2 years ago) and it looks fine too.

If its the cylinder head how can I tell which one if the compression is
good? Or do I just have to replace both anyway

Suggestions welcome.
Al Blake, Australia

 

[johninKY]

Very likely you have a pinhole leak in one of the hoses. In this case the
leak only leaks when the engine is hot and at above idle rpms. Replace
the heater hoses and check all the hose clamps as a start. I don't think
you have a head gasket problem.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

We have a 1983 1800 wagon which has done about 250,000 kms.
Car starts reliably and drives ok *but* it is using a lot of water.
Filled it up last week and it has used 2-3 litres in 5 days!
I have spent hours searching for leaks (including using flouro dye) and cant
find any....so I am wondering whether the problem is in the cylinder head(s)
but when I do a compression test I get:

150,155,145,150 psi for the 4 cylinders.

Question: Is it possible to have a cylinder head leak that would use lots of
water *without* having a noticable drop in compression?
(when I have had head gaskets go in the past the car wont start and/or the
compression drop is big).

Anyone seen this before? Needless to say I have checked the water pump
(replaced 2 years ago) and it looks fine too.

If its the cylinder head how can I tell which one if the compression is
good? Or do I just have to replace both anyway

Suggestions welcome.
Al Blake, Australia

Confirm the rad fans are working. Check appearances of the plugs, if one
is noticeably different in appearance/texture - possible leak into that
cyclinder. Have a shop pressure test the coolant system while examining
for pinhole leaks. Test/replace radiator cap.

Carl