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[tunnie]

The 3.2 has developed a leak, I can see moisture around where the engine block meets gearbox bell housing. It's dripping from two torx bolts, that said there is moisture around the engine sump.

Checked HBV, pipes all dry. Appears to loose coolant on the move, nothing much on the ground after being parked up. Lost around 2 fingers worth from header tank from 25 mile run, clear whiff of coolant when opening the door after stopping.

Had good feel around back of the block, can't feel anything. Can only think of the oil cooler plate or coolant bridge? But would expect bigger losses, oil looks fine.

Just what I don't need this week. 

[Muroman]

My leakage:
2014/07 started loosing coolant, dripped from same place as yours. Nothing wrong anywhere. 1 Litre/ per 70l benzin
2014/11 was determined that it is the oil cooler as I noticed some gunk on water.
2014-2015 winter all problems losing coolant and gunk on oil and water.
2015/04 found out broken head gasket.

-Mika

[Bojan]

That area around HBV is really the worst one when you need to find a leak or something, IMO. Really cramped up.
Any of hoses leaking in that area would drip down the bell-housing.

I would remove the scuttle, have a short drive around, and then check all this hoses (visually and by hand). With engine running, if needed. Or at least on operating temp.

As for broken head-gasket -> this affected only 98-99 V6 engines, AFAIK.

[joff]

The 3.2 has developed a leak, I can see moisture around where the engine block meets gearbox bell housing. It's dripping from two torx bolts, that said there is moisture around the engine sump.

Checked HBV, pipes all dry. Appears to loose coolant on the move, nothing much on the ground after being parked up. Lost around 2 fingers worth from header tank from 25 mile run, clear whiff of coolant when opening the door after stopping.

Had good feel around back of the block, can't feel anything. Can only think of the oil cooler plate or coolant bridge? But would expect bigger losses, oil looks fine.
Just what I don't need this week. 

Had the same with mine in April this year at around 100K, it was the seal on the oil cooler. I had a new one so put it in and now all fine again but then the HBV went again after only 18 months so now has another new one and all fine again

Oil coolers are not cheep now if you go down the main dealer road.

[tunnie]

My leakage:
2014/07 started loosing coolant, dripped from same place as yours. Nothing wrong anywhere. 1 Litre/ per 70l benzin
2014/11 was determined that it is the oil cooler as I noticed some gunk on water.
2014-2015 winter all problems losing coolant and gunk on oil and water.
2015/04 found out broken head gasket.

-Mika

Hope it's not that. 

No rough running or other issues? Just coolant loss?

[tunnie]

The 3.2 has developed a leak, I can see moisture around where the engine block meets gearbox bell housing. It's dripping from two torx bolts, that said there is moisture around the engine sump.

Checked HBV, pipes all dry. Appears to loose coolant on the move, nothing much on the ground after being parked up. Lost around 2 fingers worth from header tank from 25 mile run, clear whiff of coolant when opening the door after stopping.

Had good feel around back of the block, can't feel anything. Can only think of the oil cooler plate or coolant bridge? But would expect bigger losses, oil looks fine.
Just what I don't need this week. 

Had the same with mine in April this year at around 100K, it was the seal on the oil cooler. I had a new one so put it in and now all fine again but then the HBV went again after only 18 months so now has another new one and all fine again

Oil coolers are not cheep now if you go down the main dealer road.

My next area to check, with inlet manifold off. Was the loss constant or did it get worse?

[tunnie]

That area around HBV is really the worst one when you need to find a leak or something, IMO. Really cramped up.
Any of hoses leaking in that area would drip down the bell-housing.

I would remove the scuttle, have a short drive around, and then check all this hoses (visually and by hand). With engine running, if needed. Or at least on operating temp.

As for broken head-gasket -> this affected only 98-99 V6 engines, AFAIK.

I can fairly easy get my hands all around the HBV and below without any issues, it's all dry as far as I can see.

[tunnie]

After 25 mile run, parked in an underground car park. Not a drop of the floor, it's lost half the supply in the header tank   

[Doctor Gollum]

Get home and remove inlet whilst the kettle is on...

Also check radiator, especially left hand end, for cracks/leaks...

[tunnie]

Checked rad, it's all fine as far as I can see. I'd expect drips while parked if that 

Sadly I can't get the plenum and inlet off until week after next. 

[joff]

Checked rad, it's all fine as far as I can see. I'd expect drips while parked if that 

Sadly I can't get the plenum and inlet off until week after next. 

Best keep a can of coolant in the car then, mine would use 1/2 ltr  just driving home 8 miles

[tunnie]

Yes keeping a bottle in the boot, expansion tank dropped by about half again on the trip home of 25 miles. So it's a consistent leak for now

[Muroman]

My leakage:
2014/07 started loosing coolant, dripped from same place as yours. Nothing wrong anywhere. 1 Litre/ per 70l benzin
2014/11 was determined that it is the oil cooler as I noticed some gunk on water.
2014-2015 winter all problems losing coolant and gunk on oil and water.
2015/04 found out broken head gasket.

-Mika

Hope it's not that. 

No rough running or other issues? Just coolant loss?

There wasn't anything else.

Yes anyone doesn't want that to happen

[tunnie]

So I parked the car in a different spot at home yesterday, there is not a single drop of liquid on the driveway. It's bone dry, nothing! Yet it's dropped in the header tank, I checked when hot, now cold it's dropped a fair bit.

Next check is the cap, but if it was the coolant plate or bridge I'd expect some leakage on the driveway after a run. 

Have a horrible feeling it is head gasket. 

[Entwood]

So I parked the car in a different spot at home yesterday, there is not a single drop of liquid on the driveway. It's bone dry, nothing! Yet it's dropped in the header tank, I checked when hot, now cold it's dropped a fair bit.

Next check is the cap, but if it was the coolant plate or bridge I'd expect some leakage on the driveway after a run. 

Have a horrible feeling it is head gasket. 

When it is hot and nicely pressurised paint some diluted washing up liquid around the cap seat AND the header tank neck, not unknown for hairline cracks to be there which will lead to loss by evaporation.

Another trick is to add a decent amount of bright yellow food colouring to the header tank, so you have a REALLY yellow coloured coolant system .... leaks are then more easily noticed, especially those where the water is rapidly evaporating, as a yellow stain is left behind....

........I've never tried it .. but perhaps a headgasket leakage into the cylinder then the exhaust system "might" show up as a stained exhaust pipe ?? or yellow on a cloth held over the exhaust whilst running ??