I drove 330 miles last night and have checked my fluid levels this morning to find a fair bit of coolant has gone. It was definitely full yesterday morning before I set out. I have tracked it down to the bottom hose, which appears to be a plastic sort of tube, unlike the other rubbery flexible coolant pipes. It appears to have a blister on the side of the pipe which is very soft and oozes fluid. It is very fragile and about 2cm diameter.

Now the problem is getting in fixed and getting the car home for work by Sunday. I wonder if its worth doing a temporary repair with some foil, then some good strong tape, and some zip ties. If it breaks when I'm heading home I could then call the RAC and get a tow. When it does break though, how much warning would I get the engine over temps and blows the head gasket?!

I suppose I should call the RAC for a tow in the first place but at the moment because the system is still intact it seems salvageable...

if you can get to it, rap loads of insulation tape round it, that will work as a temp repair. The trouble with what you suggested is its unlikely to seal the leak.

The coolant system is pressurised, therefore any temp repairs are unlikely to hold.

If it's a K series engine I'd be very very wary of driving it with the possibility of the pipe going and killing your head.

Rover 420 would be the T series engine anyway, but sounds iffy to drive a long way on a temp repair. If you do, keep a bottle of water with you to top up.

Rover 420 would be the T series engine anyway, but sounds iffy to drive a long way on a temp repair. If you do, keep a bottle of water with you to top up.

Sorry, I can't read :p Didn't look what he had.

:)

K or no K, you can cook any head if you want. So care must be taken.

kalimex Quik Tape works very well.
Problem is finding some :)

Shroon