P38A Coolant leak scratching my head

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EntropyUK

Well-Known Member
Posts
467
Location
Hemel Hempsted
I have a coolant leak and using about 1/2lt per 200 miles, not not insignificant. After parking up I see a small pool of coolant slightly off center to the n/s. Under the car I am seeing coolant dripping from the engine side of tge gap between engine and rad. Plus there is coolant being spread round the engine bay by the fan

I came to the conclusion that the water pump was leaking however after just taking the viscous fan off, in the bloody sleeting freezing rain, I cannot see or feel any leaking around the water pump or thermostat, given the amount I am losing I would have expected it to be obvious. However my fingers are like sausages so cannot get them right to the mating face of the pump. The top and bottom hoses have no marks or signs of a leak. Also I checked the rad but that is fairly new and was dry with no damp on the gutter at the bottom of it.

Before replacing pump, heater outlet seal and thermostat as I planned, is there anything else I have missed that could be leaking at the front of the engine as it is not really obvious at the moment.
 
Sorry forgot to add that its the diesel version.

Aircon is off Mozz . Isn't it just the aircon gas that goes towards the front of the car
Couldn't find a leak in the top and bottom hoses when I started checking. Did have difficulty checking the thermostat end of the bottom hose as its a bit tight for my hands.
 
Could be that seal you were looking for the other day. Mine was actually leaking out the front of the head gasket. Changed all the seals but it just got worse. But I think you’d have to be pretty unlucky to get that. Perhaps quickly run it with the fan off and see if you can see anything obvious with a mirror down there. Don’t leave it running and cook it mind;)
 
Joss went for the full replacement of pump, thermostat and heater O ring. Couldn't see any obvious signs of source.

Penguin, dye woulnt work as far as I can see as the fan blows coolant all around engine bay. Doesn't coolant naturally fluoresce?
 
Did you mean "Just went for . . . . ", or is there somebody called Joss ?

If fan is sparing it everywhere, I would definitely suspect the water pump. Easiest way to diagnose is to get the engine warm, and the use a coolant pressure tester while the engine is stopped. Then any pinhole leaks become quite obvious, especially with the UV dye method.
 
Yes. It’s me. I’m Joss.

Fair enough mate. Have a look at the front edge of the HG. What condition is your rad in too?
 
Joss155 said:
Yes. It’s me. I’m Joss.

Fair enough mate. Have a look at the front edge of the HG. What condition is your rad in too?
Click to expand...

Think his rad is near enough new. Don't think his gasket would be ****ing water down the front.

UV dye might be worth a go with the viscous removed. That way he'll now if it is starting from the rad or the pump side.
 
Grrrrrr said:
Think his rad is near enough new. Don't think his gasket would be ****ing water down the front
Click to expand...

I certainly hope not mate but that is exactly what happened to mine. Changed all the above mentioned and it was still leaking. Had a new rad too etc. Couldn’t believe it when I found it and because of where it was it looked like thermostat housing.
 
There is no water anywhere near the front head joint. At times like this owning or having access to a static test rig works wonders.
 
wammers said:
There is no water anywhere near the front head joint. At times like this owning or having access to a static test rig works wonders.
Click to expand...
Sorry Wammers maybe I haven't explained this well enough. Please see picture of where mine was leaking as described. That is where the front of the HG physically ends as I'm sure you know. Right below the thermostat housing. :) Sorry for the pictures. I pinched them off tinterwebs.
mME7Lq_u9awYxRQ1XGz_U4Q.jpg
24624(3).jpg
 
Last edited:
Joss155 said:
Sorry Wammers maybe I haven't explained this well enough. Please see picture of where mine was leaking as described. That is where the front of the HG physically ends as I'm sure you know. Right below the thermostat housing. :) Sorry for the pictures. I pinched them off tinterwebs.
View attachment 141183 View attachment 141182
Click to expand...

No problem point taken, but the OP is complaining of a leak towards the N/S that is what my statement was based on. Sorry for misunderstanding. ;)
 
Check the metal conection pipe that goes into the head. I had a pin hole in mine just far enough back that the hose didn't seal it and just far enough under that you couldn't see it. But if you take the hose off and clean the inside of the pipe and put a bright light around the outside it should show any pinholes. Sealed mine with chemical metal until I got round to replacing it.
 
Thanks guys, been informative and as always you've come up with some ideas I hadn't considered. I think I am going to go back, have a fresh cup of really hot tea and go over it with a fine tooth comb. Its probably me missing something obvious.
 
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