Topic: At last I have found it! (Read 2981 times)

Bigron · « **on:** 15 February 2018, 18:12:16 »

I've had an unidentifiable coolant leak for the past two weeks which refused to show itself despite my putting a UV tracer dye into the coolant.
It only seems to lose coolant whilst/after being driven, but not on my driveway, but this morning, after driving a couple of miles to a friend's house, I saw it! There was a dribble running down from behind a pulley driven by the aux belt, so I assume it is due to the water pump - there ain't much else near there, is there?
What is OOF wisdom regarding water pumps? I seem to recall hearing on here that VX pumps are no longer recommended.
Is it wise to change the aux belt, changed by James 4 years ago (when he did my cambelt and thermostat too), but with only less than 15k miles on the aux belt?
As this morning it nearly emptied the expansion tank after a 5 mile journey, I cannot take it to Serek; can any other mobile OOFer help, please?

Ron.

TheBoy · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 February 2018, 18:37:36 »

Worth checking for leaks in the valley as well, before condemning water pump

Bigron · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 February 2018, 18:43:03 »

Not sure what you mean, TB, and where would it be leaking from, please?

Ron.

Doctor Gollum · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 February 2018, 19:08:57 »

Quote from: Bigron on 15 February 2018, 18:43:03

Not sure what you mean, TB, and where would it be leaking from, please?

Ron.

Thermostat housing sits in the centre of the block directly above the water pump... Oil cooler plate and coolant bridge both in the same place, although these two tend to manifest at the back of the block

Bigron · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 February 2018, 19:13:25 »

I do not have a trace of oil in the coolant, nor any contamination on the dipstick - I hope that means I don't have oil cooler issues?

Ron.

Doctor Gollum · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 February 2018, 19:18:29 »

Quote from: Bigron on 15 February 2018, 19:13:25

I do not have a trace of oil in the coolant, nor any contamination on the dipstick - I hope that means I don't have oil cooler issues?

Ron.

Reread my post. No one has said anything about the oil cooler failing...

Bigron · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 February 2018, 19:22:16 »

I read it carefully, but I must have taken too many "stupid pills" today, because I don't really understand where you are suggesting the leak would be coming from, sorry - imagine that you are talking to a blonde bimbo and use simple words! (Lizzie NOT to read this).

Ron.

Doctor Gollum · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 February 2018, 19:50:04 »

OK, small words...

The oil cooler plate overs the oil cooler. They are not the same thing.

Cover plate corrodes from the inside out if coolant changes not done appropriately, go porous and eventually leak.

STEMO · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 February 2018, 19:50:23 »

Quote from: Bigron on 15 February 2018, 19:22:16

I read it carefully, but I must have taken too many "stupid pills" today, because I don't really understand where you are suggesting the leak would be coming from, sorry - imagine that you are talking to a blonde bimbo and use simple words! (Lizzie NOT to read this).

Ron.

Get 'em off!

Bigron · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 February 2018, 20:06:36 »

Thanks, DG. Would a leaking cooler plate evidence itself by showing dribbles at the front of the engine? There does not appear to be any wetness in any other area, front, back or sides.
Also, you confused me by saying that the thermostat housing was directly above the water pump; I thought that housing was more-or less above the oil filter?

Ron.

JamesV6CDX · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 February 2018, 20:09:57 »

The stat lives in the valley above the front cambelt idlers backplate , depending on the slope the car is parked on this leak could be thermostat, transfer pipe, oil cooler plate or bridge banjos etc

Going back a while but didn’t I do the stat on this car with new pipe and seals?

If so it’s unlikely to be that

How old is the water pump?

Bigron · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 February 2018, 20:28:21 »

Yes James, four years ago and at the same time as you did my cambelt/aux belt. I think we (you!) concluded that the water pump was the original and likely to be better than VX replacement, so you greased the bearing and was happy with it. So, it is likely to be 17 years and 170k miles old now.
If you can recall my driveway, it slopes upwards and I park nose-up.
No loss of cooland when the engine is not running and it has been idle for most of the past two weeks - does that help diagnosis?

Ron.

JamesV6CDX · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 February 2018, 01:06:06 »

If you're parking upwards, and it's still running from around the water pump pulley, I'd suggest the pump is probably goosed

At that mileage, it hasn't done bad - certainly lasted another cambelt interval!

JamesV6CDX · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 February 2018, 01:21:52 »

Do you have cambelt kit etc, in stock? I recall you saying this was due?

Might as well use this a starting point regardless, seeing as the front covers all have to come off to do the pump / cambelt anyway

Kevin Wood · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 February 2018, 10:34:46 »

I have had a leaky water pump before and I can confirm that the water tends to appear on a little channel in the top of the sump cover, just to the right of the crank pulley.

If it's coming from the front of the engine when parked facing uphill, the cam belt cover is going to have to come off to find the leak anyway.

Bigron · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 February 2018, 10:47:07 »

I've never actually seen the leak on my driveway (front lawn now, as my drive is full of caravan!), only witness marks, i.e. small pool of water, on that tray thing under the engine front: but I saw water dripping for the first time on a friend's level drive yesterday morning. This was after a couple of miles drive, so not fully up to temperature.
As it seemed to indicate water pump leakage, I went to a nearby garage to ask about costs, and the mechanic put it up in the air to check. Well, Sod's Law always works - no drips! He removed the tray thing and looked all around, and said that there isn't anywhere else it could be coming from. As he was fully booked for a few day, I went away to ponder, and to consult the OOF Oracle - which is when it got confusing, with people talking about oil cooler cover plate. etc. What am I to think?

Regarding the cambelt, I have nothing in stock and it is due - 4 years almost to the day since you did that magnificent job on my last cambelt and swore at that "B" bolt!

Ron.

Bigron · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 February 2018, 10:50:38 »

Kevin, your post cam in whilst I was replying to James' post, so if you read that it may help answer your points.
I think I'm beginning to lose the will to live!

Ron.

JamesV6CDX · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 February 2018, 11:01:20 »

When are you free Ron?

Bigron · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 February 2018, 11:04:11 »

Most times - they don't make me work any more!

Ron.

zirk · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 February 2018, 12:14:14 »

Leaky Water Pump normally sprays coolant all over the place around the Aux Belt area, check for dried coolant in the area.

Bigron · « **Reply #20 on:** 16 February 2018, 12:19:07 »

Thanks Zirk, I will do that after dark with my UV torch as I've put UV tracer dye in the coolant.
I have already looked for leaks in that way, but not in surrounding areas.

Ron.

STEMO · « **Reply #21 on:** 16 February 2018, 20:44:43 »

About this thread title, Ron. Surely an erudite man, such as yourself, should have used the 'Eureka' word?

Bigron · « **Reply #22 on:** 16 February 2018, 20:48:15 »

I did consider it, STEMO, but then I realised that there are northerners on here, so I had to keep it simple: besides, in this weather I didn't want to run naked through the streets of Witham, yelling "Earache"!

Ron.

Bigron · « **Reply #23 on:** 17 February 2018, 00:45:37 »

Quote from: Bigron on 16 February 2018, 12:19:07

Thanks Zirk, I will do that after dark with my UV torch as I've put UV tracer dye in the coolant.
I have already looked for leaks in that way, but not in surrounding areas.

Ron.

Just made my nocturnal inspection with the UV torch - the car has got fluorescent yellow measles!
I think that confirms that I've got a knackered water pump, yes?
Well, I can go just a few miles, so no chance of getting to Serek; it will just have to be the local rip-off garage.

Ron.

JamesV6CDX · « **Reply #24 on:** 17 February 2018, 08:47:33 »

Quote from: Bigron on 17 February 2018, 00:45:37

Quote from: Bigron on 16 February 2018, 12:19:07
Thanks Zirk, I will do that after dark with my UV torch as I've put UV tracer dye in the coolant.
I have already looked for leaks in that way, but not in surrounding areas.

Ron.

Just made my nocturnal inspection with the UV torch - the car has got fluorescent yellow measles!
I think that confirms that I've got a knackered water pump, yes?
Well, I can go just a few miles, so no chance of getting to Serek; it will just have to be the local rip-off garage.

Ron.

Don’t trust local cowboys, i’ll Do it for you

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Author Topic: At last I have found it! (Read 2981 times)

STEMO

STEMO