Coolant issue - help!!

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Maggsie8

Maggsie8

Active Member
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Cobham
hi... I’ve been chasing an ongoing coolant issue for weeks now. Changed hoses, pressure tested, new expansion cap and Head Gasket checked, etc.

On digging around today I found this (see pics) and it seems to have coolant is leaking from it!! I’m no mechanic and as such have know idea what it is and if it could be the source of my problems! Anybody able to tell me what it is/does and if it could be the offending part?
 

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It is the expansion chamber, as an engine heats up some coolant is pushed out into the expansion chamber where it collects. As engine cools the coolant returns to engine and rad so maintaining the coolant level. Those round ones are known for going to leek. There are square plastic, alloy and steel ones around, see the flea bay.
 
tottot said:
It is the expansion chamber, as an engine heats up some coolant is pushed out into the expansion chamber where it collects. As engine cools the coolant returns to engine and rad so maintaining the coolant level. Those round ones are known for going to leek. There are square plastic, alloy and steel ones around, see the flea bay.
Click to expand...
Hi tottot... thanks for the response :)

I have checked the expansion tank and the only thing I found was the cap was buggered (so replaced it) no sign of leaks from the tank itself when pressure tested... the pipe in the pic's seems to come from the bulkhead by the expansion tank and the coolant seems to be leaking from here, not sure what it is ... temp sensor? but trying to find out what it is and does.

Should have stated in my 1st post it's a 2000 TD5
 
Seems to be something to do with the fuel pump/system... not the coolant!! just had coolant get in the end of it :(
 
Are you talking about the little gizmo switch?

If so you will find it’s the inertia switch. Should be clipped to the bulkhead around that area. With the wires down and the rubber cap up.
If it’s not fixed it probably wouldn’t work in an accident.

The coolant, looks like either the little piece of flexible pipe is naff or there is a split somewhere. That should have fluid in all the time ( the expansion tank)

J
 
Dont forget might be more serious like head or head gasket pressurising the system and the cap is doing exactly what it is meant to.

How hard is the top hose with engine off after a decent run?
 
lynall said:
Dont forget might be more serious like head or head gasket pressurising the system and the cap is doing exactly what it is meant to.

How hard is the top hose with engine off after a decent run?
Click to expand...
The hose isn't too squishy or too hard... will flex with medium pressure
 
marjon said:
Are you talking about the little gizmo switch?

If so you will find it’s the inertia switch. Should be clipped to the bulkhead around that area. With the wires down and the rubber cap up.
If it’s not fixed it probably wouldn’t work in an accident.

The coolant, looks like either the little piece of flexible pipe is naff or there is a split somewhere. That should have fluid in all the time ( the expansion tank)

J
Click to expand...
Have checked all the hoses and can find any that seem split and nothing showed up under the pressure test that I had a mechanic do :confused:
 
Maggsie8 said:
The hose isn't too squishy or too hard... will flex with medium pressure
Click to expand...

Well that is at least good news, when mine went it was rock hard and I had small weeps from all over the place.
Ive seen truck header tanks degrade from u/v lght they sort of crumble and look flaky?
 
Maybe it’s also heat related. Pressure test usually good enough but done cold.

I would clean it all off, make sure level is correct, then check after a run up to temperature.

How much fluid are you losing?

Put your inertia switch back on its mount though.

J
 
marjon said:
Maybe it’s also heat related. Pressure test usually good enough but done cold.

I would clean it all off, make sure level is correct, then check after a run up to temperature.

How much fluid are you losing?

Put your inertia switch back on its mount though.

J
Click to expand...
Thanks Marjon... it is right mess back there for sure. Looks like the previous owner didn't really care to much for what he was doing... breather pipes, duck tape and all sorts going on!! Thanks for the tip on the inertia switch (didn't know what it was/ did or where it should be... getting clued up on it now :))

After a good run (1hr +) the coolant is going down by 1/2ltr... so keen to sort it out as it costing me a small fortune in keeping topped up!!
 
That switch isn't anything to do with the coolant leak, any coolant coming out from that is just coolant that has gone down the sleeve of the cable after it has leaked. The leak looks like it is coming out of the header tank. You may have had the head pressure tested but that only shows the coolant isn't leaking internally. Your head gasket could still be gone or the cylinder head could be actually cracked and this pressurises the coolant system with exhaust gasses which then blows the coolant out of the pressure cap. You need to do a reverse pressure test to see if there is a pressure build up when the engine is running or alternatively a sniff test to see if there is any combustion gases getting into the coolant system. From your pictures it doesn't look good.
 
That’s a lot of fluid, clean it off and surely you should be able to see that somewhere.

Any signs underneath? On the drive.

Inertia switch cuts fuel in event of a crash, does other things to but they vary for each model. Turn lights/hazards on, unlock central door looks. All sorts of fancy stuff, but it needs to be secured.

J
 
Interceptorxj said:
That switch isn't anything to do with the coolant leak, any coolant coming out from that is just coolant that has gone down the sleeve of the cable after it has leaked. The leak looks like it is coming out of the header tank. You may have had the head pressure tested but that only shows the coolant isn't leaking internally. Your head gasket could still be gone or the cylinder head could be actually cracked and this pressurises the coolant system with exhaust gasses which then blows the coolant out of the pressure cap. You need to do a reverse pressure test to see if there is a pressure build up when the engine is running or alternatively a sniff test to see if there is any combustion gases getting into the coolant system. From your pictures it doesn't look good.
Click to expand...

Thanks Interceptorxj... I'll organise getting it reversed tested!! should have kept the D3 :D:p
 
marjon said:
That’s a lot of fluid, clean it off and surely you should be able to see that somewhere.

Any signs underneath? On the drive.

Inertia switch cuts fuel in event of a crash, does other things to but they vary for each model. Turn lights/hazards on, unlock central door looks. All sorts of fancy stuff, but it needs to be secured.

J
Click to expand...
Nothing underneath or on the drive... seems to disappear as the engine is cooling down after being driven. NOT LOOKING GOOD!!
 
OK... new inertia switch ordered as the existing one was broken off the bulkhead (think my limited mechanical skills can handle that one... now I know what it is... Thanks again @Interceptorxj and @marjon) and I have a mate coming over to do a sniffer test on it tomorrow. So fingers crossed its not the Head Gasket... but if it is does anybody know what sort of cost I'm looking at? I know it depends on who does the work but I wont be looking at using some dodgy back street garage or those over priced butt stretching gits at a JLR dealership!!
 
are you sure it leaking from around the expansion bottle and not from some where forward of the bottle and the coolant is being blow back in that area as you drive
you say you have changed the hoses all or just the main rad hoses ,I would check that the flow and return hoses to the expansion bottle have not collapsed internally
and that you are getting coolant returned to the radiator
 
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