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[Gintonic]

Hello to everyone , I hope you are in good health
I have a FL 3.0 V6
Few days ago started losing coolant and last night it was very obvious there was coolant falling on the ground. When I look under the engine , liquid comes out from two places, more from the front side , less from the back side , but I can't see from where exactly it comes. This happens when car is running.
I suspect the oil cooler , but have no idea what to do , anyone had similar experience?
Thank you in advance

[Doctor Gollum]

Heater bypass valve or associated hose.

Should stop leaking if you switch the cabin temperature to the opposite of current settings. 

Costs about €15 to change, but is fiddly as access is tight...it's in the corner where the scuttle comes around the pollen filter housing. Being left hand drive, best bet is to remove the plenum/air intake... This will also allow you to check the oil cooler cover and possibly change the thermostat whilst you are there...

And before the naysayers jump in, unlike our right hand drive cars, pulling the scuttle won't actually give significantly better access, where as pulling the intake gives loads of room... (as well as the added benefits above).

Start with the HBV, and go from there

[Gintonic]

Thank you very much Doctor Gollum. That's behind the engine but , what about the front side behind the radiator , how does the water gets there?

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Runs down the V of the engine, depending which way the car is facing - uphill or downhill.

[Gintonic]

Took out the plenum , still can't see it , when I poor water in the coolant tank I can hear tit an see it getting out from the back of the engine , but it's far below the valve , even lower , yes in the ,,V,, sector there is a coolant left, but it comes from somewhere from the back. Should I take everything out and proceed?

[Nick W]

Took out the plenum , still can't see it , when I poor water in the coolant tank I can hear tit an see it getting out from the back of the engine , but it's far below the valve , even lower , yes in the ,,V,, sector there is a coolant left, but it comes from somewhere from the back. Should I take everything out and proceed?

Every mechanic should have an INSPECTION MIRROR and a torch for such eventualities. You can get expensive ones, but they're no better in use.

[dave the builder]

Every mechanic should have an INSPECTION MIRROR and a torch for such eventualities. You can get expensive ones, but they're no better in use.

A quid more for one with LED lighting is not going to break the bank though 

£5 clicky

though you could probably get it cheaper

[Gintonic]

Well, I m not a mechanic, and usually do this stuff when mechanic s won't do it , or make me wait for a week or so. Yes , I'm ordering a camera from aliex at the moment

[Doctor Gollum]

Took out the plenum , still can't see it , when I poor water in the coolant tank I can hear tit an see it getting out from the back of the engine , but it's far below the valve , even lower , yes in the ,,V,, sector there is a coolant left, but it comes from somewhere from the back. Should I take everything out and proceed?

The inlet and divider will give you a much better view if they aren't in the way

[jonathanh]

In the middle of the v there is the thermostat. - front of car.  Oil cooler cover plate (pretty much length of the engine. And coolant bridge at back with both coolant temp sensors in.  It could be any where along there.  I think it unlikely for the oil cooler cover plate or coolant bridge to let go quickly. More likely that they leak slowly. 

[Gintonic]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hsqnaaumy0onr87/IMG_20201213_180509.jpg?dl=0

Sorry for the late response
As you can see I found it ( I hope I uploaded the picture  properly).
What now? Buy a new one or try to fix this one. old one has already been fixed once by previous owner. How to get this one out?
Do I replace all the gaskets with new ones , I m replacing the thermostat for sure , don't know if I can get the gaskets  in a short time.
Can I clean the petrol injectors , maybe polish inside of the intake manifold?
Thank you all for such a good advice. No mechanic where I live wanted to start working on it.

[Doctor Gollum]

New oil cooler required.

Genuine still available from the US for reasonable prices.

Undo the oil cooler lines from the oil filter end, and from the oil cooler plate.

Undo the oil cooler plate and jiggle it out.

Clean area and refit new one with grey goo and reattach the oil cooler lines. Definitely do the thermostat whilst you are there and if the cam cover gaskets need doing, then you may want to address them too.

The expensive bit is the oil cooler, stripping it down is the hardest part as the work is the same for all three jobs. 

[Gintonic]

How do I unbolt the cooler bridge, I just broke one of the bolts , it looks like it's not an ordinary bolt

[Doctor Gollum]

They're standard E torx bolts, although a six sided socket can work. Although apparently yours have never been out, so carefully remove the rest of them... You'll need to dig out the remains of any snapped bolts before you can fit the new cooler though.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Coolant bridge bolts are hollow banjo bolts.