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[TomD]

Hi,  I am looking for advice on a coolant leak.   Its a Y reg 2.6 Omega close to 80,000 miles.  The initial fix was to replace the heater bypass valve.  However the car is still losing coolant.  The garage has checked and says that the bypass valve change was OK and there is a another leak around the 'vee' area of the engine. This will require some pretty expensive investigation and then repalce of whatever is failing.  My question is - could I live with this and top up the coolant when required - it seems to be a smallish leak - or is this likely to lead to longer term damage (or a sudden complete failure) if I don't get it fixed
regards,  Tom D.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Given that the bypass valve has been changed, the next favourites in the following order are:

1) Oil cooler plate to block seal
2) Thermostat to block seal
3) Coolant bridge seals.

These will all be a slow leak (1 litre every few hundred miles or so) and you haev no DIS pack so it will not cause a problem with this.

Probably about 2 hours work plus about 20 quids worth of bits to re-seal the lot.

[Markjay]

Oil cooler failure is not uncommon on these engines. On my 2001 2.6, the actual oil cooler went at around 25k and was (luckily) replaced under warranty. Once you remove the intake plenum and cover plate as Mark DTM says, you will also be able to see the condition of the oil cooler itself. Do you also have signs of coolant in the oil, i.e. 'mayo' on the dipstick etc (mayo in the oil filler cap on short trips is normal, but not on the dipstick...). Hopefully though it's only a coolant leak and not oil cooler failure....