Hi guys. Went to top up windscreen wash at weekend and noticed the coolant in expansion tank was near enough empty!!

Trying to see what could be the problem, have checked under oil filler cap and dipstick and both currently free of mayonaise like gunk, coolant tank also appears free of oil.

Vehicle did have new cambelt and waterpump about 4 months ago but no other work done on it since then. It's ten years old, regularly serviced and done 70k miles. 

Have taken a few photos which show oil splashes around hoses near coolant expansion tank, not sure if this is fresh oil or from when new water pump and cambelt was done, see images below. Does this look normal or is my engine buggered?

The tank is not that empty. The full level is just above the seam. If it has had work done a few months ago, I would suspect that there was a small amount of air in the cooling system which has now found it's way to the expansion tank.

Just top it back up and check it again in a weeks time. [Don't overfill it]

Hi thanks for quick reply, I should have said I'd topped up the tank before taking that picture. The tank before I took the picture can be seen here

Also, I've noticed a lot of oil around this part of the engine bay,not sure what the part is but its a disc like metal bit to the right of the expansion tank before the main engine housing. I've pointed to it with white arrow below..?

That's the engine mount.  It's filled with oil in an attempt to smooth idle vibrations.  That one is knackered and needs replacing.

3 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

That's the engine mount.  It's filled with oil in an attempt to smooth idle vibrations.  That one is knackered and needs replacing.

Thanks for helping, what sort of price would I be looking at for new engine mount at an indie garage?

16 minutes ago, pinball wizard said:

Thanks for helping, what sort of price would I be looking at for new engine mount at an indie garage?

A genuine mount costs around £100.  Aftermarket mounts cost around £30-£50 but the quality will vary with those.

Should take less than half an hour to replace, though most garages probably charge a full hour.  So rough estimate £40-£80 in labour.

Have taken it into a local independent garage and they've quoted £160 for the parts and labour, problem is they can't do the work until next week sooo....

Next question, I need to drive from Ipswich to Gatwick and back on Saturday. Is it too risky to drive it that far with the engine mount like that? Would it likely cause further damage or cause me to breakdown?

Worst case scenario I can hire a car for the weekend if it's not good to drive it like that...

Thanks for any replies

42 minutes ago, pinball wizard said:

Next question, I need to drive from Ipswich to Gatwick and back on Saturday. Is it too risky to drive it that far with the engine mount like that?

It'll be fine.  

This engine mount on my 1.6 auto squirted out oil a year ago.

I did nothing about it and am still driving around to this day.

Cannot tell the difference.

ScaniaPBman.