How should I cure a small coolant leak??

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G13SJC

G13SJC

New Member
Posts
735
Location
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Following my engine rebuild (1.8L K series), I reused the coolant elbow using a genuine LR gasket.

I've noticed a small weep around the elbow, so I applied more torque to the two 8mm bolts.

Its still weeping (about an egg cup of coolant over night)

Should I buy a new elbow and gasket (in case it got damaged when the engine overheated with previous owner)

or

Remove and refit using something like Red Hermitite??


When I stripped the engine I did notice that it had been fitted with black sealant (possibly what LR use on the sump and camshaft carrier)

Should I have used sealent as well as a gasket??

Any help will be great - dont want to wreck my freebie as she is running well and I have just covered 2600 miles since summer rebuild :)
 
is this on ya 1.8?

Did ya check that both mating surfaces are flat before refitting it?

by coolant elbow - do ya mean the thermostat housing?
 
Your seal for the thermostat is duff. Elbow butts up against it, and not actual recess for it (weird design). A new thermostat is only about £10 or any silicone sealant made for 250oC will form a seal, you dont have to use the black mastic from LR which is an adhesive and forms a seal. You will have to drain and dry the thermostat housing, apply continuous bead of sealant/silicone on both sides, assemble thermostat and elbow tighten bolts then leave for 24hrs to cure, fill with coolant.

The red comma seal is for oil seals/gaskets

Keep us updated

good to see your being helpful again MHM, see not all -ve LOL
 
Guys its the coolant elbow which bolts to the cylinder head of the 1.8. It has two pipes and two sensors connected to it.

Would hermetite be suitable in this situation.

Thanks for previous replies, but its not the black plastic thermostat - must have got my wires crossed!!

Regards,

Steve.
 
Reading the first post again - my reading is that "I reused the coolant elbow using a genuine LR gasket." - This, I take as using a new LR gasket - if this is so, then buying another new one wont necessarily fix the problem.

Make sure all mating surfaces are clean and free from old gasket. Ensure mating surfaces are flat and not distorted. Use a new gasket and, if yu wish, a small amount of gasket compound.

This should fix it.

If I was wrong and yu didnt use a new gasket - yu should - always!
Having said that - lots of peeps dont (me included) and get away with it - but not all the time ;)
 
Thanks guys.

I did use a new gasket and cleaned up the mating surfaces. I will obtain a new gasket and try a smear of sealant.

Just wanted to check with the guru's if using additional sealant was ok.

Thanks for your replies - I'll have a go this weekend.

Must get solved as dont want another HGF :0
 
G13SJC said:
Thanks guys.

I did use a new gasket and cleaned up the mating surfaces. I will obtain a new gasket and try a smear of sealant.

Just wanted to check with the guru's if using additional sealant was ok.

Thanks for your replies - I'll have a go this weekend.

Must get solved as dont want another HGF :0
Click to expand...
slap loads on, i use golden, as ya can get orft if ya need to,sometimes little weeps seal themselfs , but if it dont slap it on, wont do any harm. . .best oh luck. .:)
 
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