is this what i think it is?????

From the amount of coolant missing from the reservoir, if it has got into the oil, I would have expected it to have raised the oil level on the dip stick. However if oil is clear, Martins advice is good, clean out the oil separator box, but I would also clean out all the pipework and fittings for this vapour re breathing circuit....there may be a blockage. see pic below.
If you have not checked the coolant for some time, even a small leakage can eventually lead to a large drop in coolant level, and if the leak is, say, between the heads from the pipe work, then it might just evaporate on the hot surfaces, and therefore you don`t see a pool of coolant on the floor. This has recently happened to my Alp, but it has now been cured.....perished rubber pipework
Lets be optimistic for the moment



Once it is all sorted out, may I suggest that you invest in a new reservoir, with new correct coolant, you will be able to see at a glance if there is a leakage problem

A new reservoir is a good idea as i was fooled by the dirt on the inside, thinking it was coolant. i must admit i hadnt checked the level for a while coz of that

added just under 2 litres of water to get the reservoir full. no leak under the car for now. will keep an eye for puddles. the rad need recoring but does not seem to leak.

the reservoir plug seal is not in a good shape either...



the water in the reservoir does not seem to have any oil in it only rusty particles



cleaned the black box and pipes, there wasnt much of that mayonnaise really, just dark oil and dirt.

one of the pipe was split but was not leaking.



will flush the oil later this week to see if there is any coolant and mayo in it.

have sourced a compression tester so will do that on the weekend.

not sure yet where the coolant has gone but not sure either over what period... will monitor closely from now

passenger footwell not wet, only when it rains heavily. i have removed the carpets couple of months ago to dry them and havent fitted them back yet. i havent noticed any leaks anywhere around the passenger side the rest of the time though. could it leak on the driver side? there is a fair amount of rust in the pedal box area

...added just under 2 litres of water to get the reservoir full.

If that amount of coolant had got into the oil, I would have thought 2 liters would have shown up as overfill on the dip stick, plus the oil would be somewhat grey in colour.......fingers crossed

Agree. That split in the breather hose could be enough to get some damp in and cause the mayo in the cap.

If you haven't actually checked the coolant level for some time that could have been weeping away for some time, although 2 litres sounds like quite a bit. Have a peep under the inlet manifold to see if there are any pools there - as someone said, though, this can evaporate as things get hot.

If your expansion bottle looks stained etc. around the cap and down the sides, then I think that would indicate that you're losing some out of the top of the cap - that seal looks pretty leaky.

Fill it back up and keep a close eye on the bottle level for the next few outings

no pools so far, no visible leak... i think i will have to get a new seal at least and possibly a new reservoir as suggested...

can anybody explain to me the function of that black box/breather pot thingy and what those pipes are connected to?

Captures oil vapor .It a catch tank .

Captures oil vapor .It a catch tank .

.......and returns the collected oil to the sump, while passing the unburnt gasses, and condensation (when Engine is cold), back into the inlet plumbing to be burnt in combustion......all comes under the heading of "anti pollution"

Bin it and upgrade to the later filter system in the filler cap

the reservoir plug seal is not in a good shape either...

Whilst waiting for a new Reservoir and cap (a MUST in my book), take the plug seal washer out, put it in hot water, straighten it as best as possible, and put it back upside down.

found another pipe with 2 splits... all have been split by the jubilee clips.

where can i find replacement pipes? do i have to buy the renault pre-formed ones or can i use something else?

where can i get a new reservoir and top?

i am planning the oil change tomorrow afternoon and compression testing on saturday. what pressure values should i expect to get?

also saw this from underneath the engine on the passenger side



and from the top



could that be related or is this just the rocker cover seal leaking?

changed the oil yesterday and no water or mayonaise in oil....

compression tested it today, similar readings for all 6 cylinders (about 8bar) so i suppose its OK unless all 6 are leaking

so i suppose its just condensation?

[BIG_MVS]

That's good news. How about the coolant level, has that decreased? Put some cardboard under the front and engine to check for tell tale signs.

120psi is a little low but good that they are all about the same .Depends on a few things but should be nearer 140 to 160 psi .
What colour was the oil ? No chocolate tainting ?

oil looked very dark brown/black. not sure what you mean by chocolate tainting

for the compression test i was told to turn the ignition key for few revs but not let the engine start completely.

coolant level has not changed but i havent driven it for a while. cardboard is already under the car keeping a eye on it

compression tested it today, similar readings for all 6 cylinders (about 8bar) so i suppose its OK unless all 6 are leaking :shock

Lee's right, but if you didn't have the throttle plate wide open when you were cranking the engine your reading will be low anyway