My 2012 Focus 1.6 petrol has had cooling issues since I bought it, and now had me nearly stranded on the motorway due to engine overheating.

TL;DR: car stuck in Newport but can be driven for a few miles, any advice on where to have it looked at?

Background:

Faulty radiotor when bought, was replaced by seller under warranty. A coolant leak around thermostat was later also remedied by another shop.

I kept eye on coolant levels, seemed fine. Car ran fine for a few months, now out of warranty.

Yesterday had warning about overheating and to pull over. Coolant vessel was empty but coolant exploded out when I (foolishly) opened the cap.

I topped up and drove off, same problem happened again as I drove into Newport.

Coolant empty, so topped off again (waited to cool first), but coolant again missing after parking the car and letting it properly cool.

No visible leakage under the car as I top off, so need to have it properly inspected.

Any Focus specialists in Newport you can recommend, or is the official dealership the way to go?

Edited December 26, 2025Dec 26 by ProtoNuco
clarification on engine

It would help to know what engine.

3 minutes ago, unofix said:

It would help to know what engine.

Good point, clarified. 1.6 petrol.

15 hours ago, ProtoNuco said:

Good point, clarified. 1.6 petrol.

You say the coolant leak around thermostat was rectified? Do you know how? I had massive coolant leak, would be empty after like 50 miles. Got thermostat and thermostat housing changed but they put the wrong thermostat in [operates at a different temperature than another one]. Had to take my car back to the garage and have them put the right one in free of charge [they weren't happy about another day's labour for free but hey ho should have been right first time]. 

I also have 1.6l petrol. Sounds like you have a classic thermostat housing leak, or a split radiator hose (or both), or the wrong thermostat. You said that coolant burst out when you opened the reservoir so it sounds like there's some in the pipes but whirring around at the wrong temperature. 

I don't know Newport, but have you tried the website BookMyGarage? Stick in your registration and postcode and choose your garage.

 

Took me ages to find my leak which was at the firewall where the grey hose connector attaches. Sprayed out coolant only when engine got and trickled down the pipes and wires to area of underside under driver seat. Very hard to see from top side due to hoses but noticed pink dripping underneath with a torch.

Just putting it there as something to check as this led to my expansion tank being emptied over just 20 miles