Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: MutantCav on 15 March 2009, 18:40:03

Title: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: MutantCav on 15 March 2009, 18:40:03
Ok so there is coolant leaking onto the road from my estate...I can (and I know this is fairly unusual lol) see the leak...I just dont know what it is...inside the engine bay, passengers side behind and underneath the brake pump/pipes there is a pipe coming through the bulkhead presumably from the cabin...anyone know what this pipe is as its leaking just inside the engine bay, even when cold...

Its not a major leak, had to top up coolant just once in 2-3 months but may be getting worse perhaps...
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: Tawfield on 15 March 2009, 18:50:47
It appears to be the drain pipe for the heater air intake box or does the water contain antifreeze.
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: MutantCav on 15 March 2009, 19:07:16
Could just be water quite possibly, not really checked...what does it do and where is the heater air intake box?? And why does it need a drain pipe?
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 15 March 2009, 19:10:22
Is it some sort of pipe that expells water from the Air Con system when it defrosts?
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: MutantCav on 15 March 2009, 19:15:29
Looking down into the engine bay it looks like its dripping water from the pipe into the engine bay...

Any chance this pipe leaking could in any way cause issues with engine running?? (probably not and probably unrelated)
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 15 March 2009, 19:36:54
Maybe pictures with an arrow on might help .  Not sure if you could see the bit you speak of from taking a picture.
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: stemon on 15 March 2009, 19:42:36
It does sound like the aircon condensation pipe , turn aircon off (if its on) and see if it still leaks.  
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: MutantCav on 15 March 2009, 20:28:50
I never use the aircon...unless the switch is faulty and its on all the time but the LED has failed...
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: MutantCav on 15 March 2009, 20:30:54
Hmmm unless the little lad has turned it on during the day so its leaking or leaking more than normal as a result  :D How does it work anyway?? I can sort a pic in the morning and see whether I can show enough detail to be seen  :y
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 15 March 2009, 21:42:48
The clutch on the pump should kick in and the engine noise drop once the air con is turned on, so at least an indication it's on even if LED doesnt work (doesn work and you strip cars . . .tut tut)
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: MutantCav on 15 March 2009, 23:15:21
Not many of the cars I strip dont need regassing plus ability to strip does not equal knowledge of or ability to fix necessarily lol But that asides, without checking not sure if aircon was on or not...just had a look to see where the leak was coming from...will check aircon etc tomorrow anyway  :y
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: isbuck on 16 March 2009, 00:09:28
just a thought re air-con, if air con IS on it'll be dehumidifying too. From my cdx users guide "when the aircon is on condesation will form and will issue from the underside of the vehicle" I'm a complete newbe to the Omega so forgive me if you've already workrd this one out.
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: MutantCav on 16 March 2009, 00:43:46
Thing is though its a constant drip (may have subsided now as cars not been driven for quite a few hours) and appears to be dripping onto the subframe area rather than directly onto the road...will see better with a torch tomorrow and try get some decent pics  :y
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: Tawfield on 16 March 2009, 18:00:48
Stand front of veh looking at windscreen r/h side is a grill remove rubber bonnet seal lift up flap and you will see a deep hole,the tube drains rainwater from box,if the drain hole gets full of crud the box/hole fills up and the floods the passenger side footwell it appears yours aint blocked completely but is holding some water back and why you are seeing it dribble out,don`t think it is aircon the drip pipe is over the gearbox or that area,the area you describe is the subframe the pipe is about 11/4 dia and has a flat piece on the bottom.
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 March 2009, 18:06:09
The air conditioning condenser drains are little stubby pipes which emerge either side of the gearbox. They will drip constantly if the air conditioning is running. Easy way to tell is that the water will be clear (no antifreeze) and ice cold whereas coolant would obviously be hot and have antifreeze in it.

Kevin
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: Andy B on 16 March 2009, 18:08:20
Quote

. Easy way to tell is that the water will be clear (no antifreeze)
tasteless ;)


Quote
and ice cold whereas coolant would obviously be hot and have antifreeze in it.

tastes sweet!  ;)  ;D  ;D  ;D


Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: Tawfield on 16 March 2009, 18:15:10
Im still going for the heater air intake box.
Title: Re: Coolant Leak...Not Your Usual!
Post by: MutantCav on 17 March 2009, 23:10:06
Quote
Stand front of veh looking at windscreen r/h side is a grill remove rubber bonnet seal lift up flap and you will see a deep hole,the tube drains rainwater from box,if the drain hole gets full of crud the box/hole fills up and the floods the passenger side footwell it appears yours aint blocked completely but is holding some water back and why you are seeing it dribble out,don`t think it is aircon the drip pipe is over the gearbox or that area,the area you describe is the subframe the pipe is about 11/4 dia and has a flat piece on the bottom.
Ok funnily enough I was reading another post where some guy had water in his footwell and was thinking...same sort of area and likely cause just before I read your post...looked today and its solid wet leaf debris filling the drain...agreed its causing water to leak through into the engine bay area and thankfully not yet into cabin footwells...but how to I free up the drain?? Hard to reach with the plastic bit that holds the particulate filter in the way...