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[star_whites]

Right, this bloody water leak is doing my head in.

Ok brief story so far. Bought her in Nov and noticed was using approx 1/2 litre over say 300 miles, got steadily worse unitl using a litre over a couple of days in January. Bought new heater bridge seals and stripped down as per recomendations.

On inspection found leak from heater bridge. Removed, cleaned and refitted with new seals (including a small amount of sealant to make sure). Rebuild car and everything appeared ok. No longer could see water running down block onto exhaust.

However over last week shes been using a fair bit of fluids again. No oil in water and no water in oil. However when parked at work in the car park on a dry day I noticed quite a wet patch at the side of the car from the window and went to see. It was quite a wet patch but was no drips (saying this it was nearly 3 hours since I had parked up)(car parked facing down hill and to the left)

Went home and had to top up with 3/4 litre. Next day I drove into the space so the engine was facing up hill and the passenger side was at the top. Went out and checked when light and there was no wet patches.

Again went home no fluids required. Went to work and parked downhill and there was the wet patch again.

This is just getting daft, anyone got any ideas. Is it possible there is a leak and it gets worse when parked at an angle or am I missing something  

[Elite Pete]

The angle of the car shouldn't make a difference as the cooling system is pressurised.

[star_whites]

Well I thought that initally but I couldnt understand why it leaked when parked one way but not the other.

It also still hisses when you remove the presure cap after its cooled so Im guessing its holding pressure

[star_whites]

It is possible that its leaking from the oil cooler cover plate??

The other possible fault I was thinking is if it was leaking out from the head gasket and was leaking more due to the direction of the water being on a tilt. But then again I would have thought it would do it worse when the engine was running and it would only run down the block and not onto the exhaust  

[Entwood]

Might sound daft .. but worth a check .... header tank cap seal/vent... if this has a slight leak .. and mine did ... it might be that when parked in one direction the coolant level is not at the header cap, but in the other direction it is, and so it leaks under pressure, but sometimes just air, other times fluids

The pressure in the header tank actually rises after the engine is switched off ... the coolant absorbs heat from the still hot engine, but the cooling fans are not running and there is no ram air .. so the temperature actualy increases .. increase the temp on a sealed gas system and the presure must rise ( Boyles law ?? ) .. the small amount of air above the fluid level in the header tank is a sealed system .. or should be ..

[Darth Loo-knee]

Can onlt think of a few places coolant leaks from...

Reservoir Cap.
HBV
Dowty Washers on the Coolant bridge
Oil Cooler Plate.
Tranfer Pipe (big hose near the battery goes to this)
Rear Seal on the Transfer Pipe on the drivers side, that goes underneath the coolant bridge.

[star_whites]

Well when I replaced the seals on the coolant bridge it looked as if the fluid was dripping down onto the oil cooler but I suppose it could be that there was also a leak on the oil cooler cover as well.

Am I right in saying that the oil cooler bolts sometimes snap if old causing the need to replace the oil cooler??

If so I will have to consider buying all the necesary parts just in case as I cant afford for her to be off the road if something breaks over a weekend  

[Andy B]

Is it coolant? Have you tasted it? Coolant is sweet tasting.

[star_whites]

It has to be coolant as the coolant level is going down and as far as Im aware she not burning it. It had a waterleak a few weeks back and you could so it running down the back of the engine and dripping on the exhaust. I stripped her down and replaced the coolant bridge seals as it looked like it was leaking from there. So far I havent seen it leaking but it always has a puddle next to it at work and the level is dropping

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Has the Heater Bypass Valve been done?

[star_whites]

HBV looks fine and doesnt appear to be leaking however the next time I take her appart I have a new one fitted on my 2.0. Thats currently having surgery so will swat them just to make sure. Im wondering if its the hose to the hbv from the coolant bridge or if its the oil cooler.

Hoping it aint a core plug  

[PxMetro]

Have you checked the water pump? There is a core plug at the front of the aluminum housing. From personal experience, I know this can leak. Unfortunately you have to remove the cam belt cover etc to get a good look at it, but tell tale signs are coolant at the bottom front of the engine  

[star_whites]

The water leak is definatly coming from the rear of the engine. Its dripping off the bottom of the gearbox bellhousing.

[cem_devecioglu]

Might sound daft .. but worth a check .... header tank cap seal/vent... if this has a slight leak .. and mine did ... it might be that when parked in one direction the coolant level is not at the header cap, but in the other direction it is, and so it leaks under pressure, but sometimes just air, other times fluids

The pressure in the header tank actually rises after the engine is switched off ... the coolant absorbs heat from the still hot engine, but the cooling fans are not running and there is no ram air .. so the temperature actualy increases .. increase the temp on a sealed gas system and the presure must rise ( Boyles law ?? ) .. the small amount of air above the fluid level in the header tank is a sealed system .. or should be ..

 

my car did exactly the same..

[cem_devecioglu]

Can onlt think of a few places coolant leaks from...

Reservoir Cap.
HBV
Dowty Washers on the Coolant bridge
Oil Cooler Plate.
Tranfer Pipe (big hose near the battery goes to this)
Rear Seal on the Transfer Pipe on the drivers side, that goes underneath the coolant bridge.

thermostat area and lastly heater matrix completes the list..

if you want to determine the exact place there are colorful additives..