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[TheDaddy]

Folks

In bother now and am after some advice, help, support.
 

Previously I thought I had a slight oil leak that was coming down the side of the engine from above the oil filter but slightly towards the rear of the engine. Eventually forming on the bottom bolt of the gearbox housing.
Had already planned to do a further investigation into that this week end, but on Thursday a coolant leak was much more apparent. Pulled up at lunch time in tesco's with an amount of smoke coming from the engine bay, but after getting home that is only 5 mins, pulled up with a lot of smoke coming from the passenger side engine bay and I could see coolant pouring out from underneath the car.

So - I have checked the HBV, and that looks ok.
Removed the top and all is dry in the centre. All hoses seem ok, but with the amount that is pouring out, I am thinking it is a hose.

Problem I have really is that because I am not familiar with working on cars in general, it is very diffivult for me to see or identify what is or is not right. I could be looking straight at the fault but not seeing it.

I have tried to use a small mirror to look at the back for any problems, but at the moment cant find or see anything that tells me what the fault is.

Any direction or pointers would be helpfull.

Any mechanics within the Milton Keynes area may be required.

Cheers maties
Tony

[tunnie]

not uncommon for the hose to blow on the coolant bridge, are you able to take the plenum off? If so take that off & fuel injection manifold (dead easy)

The can split, and being main hose dump lots of coolant.

How much has the coolant bottle dropped by?

[TheDaddy]

Coolant bottle is nearly empty now.
Plenum and manifold is off.
Coolant bridge hose connections do look like they have seen water, but I just do not know if it is recent or not.

I suppose all I can do now is start removing each hose completley to check?

[Entwood]

If you have, or can get, a used coolant bottle cap...  drill it out and glue in a schrader valve from an old innertube - or scrounge one fom a tyre place ! This can be used to gently pressurise the coolant system to 5-10 psi and helps find leaks.

Another thing you can do is to buy a small bottle of food colouring .. I've used bright yellow.. and add that to the coolant, this also helps trace leaks.. just need to flush the system clean afterwards.

If you do both then leaks are usually very easy to spot 

HTH

[Jimbob]

iirc this car had its headgasket done just before you bought it?

[dbug]

not uncommon for the hose to blow on the coolant bridge, are you able to take the plenum off? If so take that off & fuel injection manifold (dead easy)

The can split, and being main hose dump lots of coolant.

How much has the coolant bottle dropped by?

Just replaced the small hose from coolant bridge to HBV - pinholed underneath by clip - hard to spot but dumped a lot of coolant!!

[TheDaddy]

iirc this car had its headgasket done just before you bought it?

Yep

[TheDaddy]

Checked the hoses from the bridge - both seem ok.
No holes or blows visible.
Not sure if valid, but blowing as hard as I can down them does not seem to force a sign of a leak.

Are there any other hoses in that area that I should check?

[dbug]

Checked the hoses from the bridge - both seem ok.
No holes or blows visible.
Not sure if valid, but blowing as hard as I can down them does not seem to force a sign of a leak.

Are there any other hoses in that area that I should check?

Had to take mine off and flex it to spot it

[TheDaddy]

Put it all back togeather to check and the same.
If I rev the engine the coolant literally pours out the bottom.
Leave it on tick over and it settles down to just a drip now and again.

[TheDaddy]

Also did take off the bridge hoses to check.
Going to have to leave it for today as I need to sort the kiddies.
 :-/

[albitz]

Could be a core plug. ...........as said, it needs dye or pressure (or both) to make it easier to find. Might be worth taking the wipers scuttle off and then shining a torch down the back of the engine.You might just spot the leak. :-/

[TheDaddy]

Might have to go the dye root as I just can not see where it is coming from.
Already got the scuttle off as well.

 

Will try and further tomorrow.

[Mrs Cakey]

iirc this car had its headgasket done just before you bought it?

That was my first thought, but I would have expected anything amiss from that to show itself sooner :-/

My money's on a core plug if not a hose

[Jimbob]

ok...iirc MarkeyMark (ex-member, good friend of Guy) did the work

iirc, some of his workmanship was 'questionable' so a possibility.

I know Guy mentioned radweld / k-seal, but pretty sure he didnt use them.

Im thinking a hose or similar hasnt gone back quite as it should, or is twisted, and is the cause.

Good luck in sorting it.