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[bigdods]

Sounds identical to the problem on my 3.0. I was losing small amounts of coolant, going from max to min in about a week. No obvious sign of any leakage. Garage diagnosed oil cooler failure after removing the plenum and digging around, even though there was no cross contamination. They were right it was buggered and had managed to leak all over the dis pack which then broke a few weeks later grrrr. It appeared (I have to trust their judgement here) that the cooler had corroded from the inside out, they said it was an odd failure, most likely a manufacturing fault started it off, then possibly the previous owner had run too weak on the antifreeze mix causing the corrosion to accelerate and ultimately cause failure. Well it seemes plausible to me anyway.

Lesson learned, when the plenum is off look at everything not just the immediate fault !

[Mike Collins]

If it's showing signs of leakage at rear of the head, coolant bridge seals, oil cooler cover plate and thermostat seals are worth checking.

All could leak and run back along the valley and drip at the rear.

Coolant can't leak out of the cam cover seals, unless someone has filled the sump with it!

[ians]

When you do the cam cover gaskets, remove the manifold that is below the fuel rail assembly (just a load of bolts).  Then you will be able to see the thermostat, oil cooler plate and the coolant bridge at the back.  It sounds like its one of these which is then leaking out of the back of the V.

[duggs]

Could this problem not be caused by air in the system somewhere...stubborn air that won't come out. ?

[humbucker]

When you do the cam cover gaskets, remove the manifold that is below the fuel rail assembly (just a load of bolts).  Then you will be able to see the thermostat, oil cooler plate and the coolant bridge at the back.  It sounds like its one of these which is then leaking out of the back of the V.

what should i be looking out for though, what tell tale signs should i spot? this is all new territory for me so im not sure what i would recognise as a faulty component.  

[amba]

Hi..I had a very similar problem to yours and it was cured by replacing the coolant headre tank and the yellow pressure cap,with brand new at a cost of about £35=00.
It seemed that there was a minute seam crack in the plastice expansion tank around the neck and was only leaking under pressure.Might be worth the cost if they are the original bits and you are keeping the car for a while .Hope that helps

[Mike Collins]

I'm in the middle of changing the thermostat on my 2.5 and I think I've spotted the cause of my slow leak.

The front oil cooler to cover plate joint is seeping, just under the banjo bolt. There was no sign of leakage without dismantling this far.

Worth a look at yours.

[humbucker]

the latest instalment...

topped up coolant before i left for work. was on way in, steam and water emptied itself into drivers footwell, so heater matrix gone(?), coolant steady trickle out of bottom of car, from usual place but this time at much more of a rate. half of expansion tank emptied.

called AA, towed to nearest garage (VX) awaiting them to diagnose further. couldn't do much else really, can't drive it like it is. i wondered if matrix going was a result of pressure buildup from elsewhere, it looking for the weakest point to escape? i.e. the matrix going is just a product of the earlier leak/bigger problem?

dripping coolant for a while, unable to identify as mentioned previously, havent had chance to do cam covers to check coolant leak yet. could it have been matrix all along?  

[Chopper]

I'm in the middle of changing the thermostat on my 2.5 and I think I've spotted the cause of my slow leak.

The front oil cooler to cover plate joint is seeping, just under the banjo bolt. There was no sign of leakage without dismantling this far.

Worth a look at yours.

The garage changed my thermostat and a leak appeared - no previous problem for 30k!  They had improvised a washer when fitting.  The leak took a long time to spot and only under pressure - I live in the mountains and it's only when going uphill!!

[Andy B]

.....The garage changed my thermostat and a leak appeared - no previous problem for 30k!  They had improvised a washer when fitting.   ......

Do you think there might be a link between the two?      

[humbucker]

the latest instalment...

topped up coolant before i left for work. was on way in, steam and water emptied itself into drivers footwell, so heater matrix gone(?), coolant steady trickle out of bottom of car, from usual place but this time at much more of a rate. half of expansion tank emptied.

called AA, towed to nearest garage (VX) awaiting them to diagnose further. couldn't do much else really, can't drive it like it is. i wondered if matrix going was a result of pressure buildup from elsewhere, it looking for the weakest point to escape? i.e. the matrix going is just a product of the earlier leak/bigger problem?

dripping coolant for a while, unable to identify as mentioned previously, havent had chance to do cam covers to check coolant leak yet. could it have been matrix all along?  

guys, ur advice greatly appreciated before the garage call back with their verdict... i wondered if this morning's problems shed any more light on the matter?

[MutantCav]

Random I know but what/where is the heater matrix??

[humbucker]

heater matrix is the small radiator behind the the dash that controls the temperature of the climate control. bitch to get at, but its the only part of the car, to my knowledge, that pumps water inside the cabin, therefore wet feet when it or its pipes burst. i think in and out pipes go into engine bay and join at the heater bypass valve.

not good.

[MutantCav]

Oh, well I have most of the centre bit of the dash ripped out of the elite in the driveway so will have to take a look and see if I can see the heater matrix back there And if I can have to see how to remove it lol

[humbucker]

Garage called back just now... new heater matrix including labour and VAT £780. VX garage. Does this sound right?

 

what to do...??