Disco 2 Mystery Water Loss SOLVED!

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markomate2

markomate2

Well-Known Member
Posts
899
Location
Bedford and Tallinn
I dont often get stumped on an issue but this one is weird!
Ive been consistently losing water since the head was replaced July last year.
Usually requires topping up every few days.
Changed the cap twice, now has a genuine one.
Leaks when its not running, small puddle under front in the area under the rad.
I pressure checked it last weekend, 15psi for 10mins, held it perfectly no drop or drips!
No white smoke, no mayo, no over pressure in expansion tank.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Mark
 
neilly said:
Was it hot when you pressure checked it?
Cheers
Click to expand...
The pump is the obvious culprit, its done 201000 miles now!
But nothing obvious, but if the seal/bearings are going it could cause an intermittent leak (in theory!)
Did it cold, as per test kit instructions and again when hot, same result.
The top hose and therefore the rad were def pressurised hot and cold.
Cheers Sierra, Ill get the kit today.
I did think it was a bad seal on the cap to expansion tank but that wouldn't explain why it leaks even when cold/parked!
Mark
 
Mine developed a loss of coolant too. No obvious signs anywhere. Oil level is spot on and looking healthy, oil filler cap looks healthy, no pink spots anywhere. Lost about 2 litres in 2.5k miles...

Will be following this with interest.
 
Yoguko said:
Mine developed a loss of coolant too. No obvious signs anywhere. Oil level is spot on and looking healthy, oil filler cap looks healthy, no pink spots anywhere. Lost about 2 litres in 2.5k miles...

Will be following this with interest.
Click to expand...

A good spot for a coolant loss to hide, is in the oil cooler "pipe / blanking plug" under the turbo.

Cheers
 
Mine had a leak a while back which was a drip when idling. At about 2000rpm it gushed out. Water pump seals were fubar. Check the weep-hole on the pump casing.
On the other hand, i recently had a couple of drips appearing while parked up. Couldnt find it at first but it turned out to be the bottom rad hose leaking past the jubilee clip (got rid of the poxy spring clips) Nipped it up and all fine now.
 
Yep already tried checking the pump area when reving, nothing obvious.
Oil cooler blanking plug is ok.
Hoses look good.
They were rock hard during the pressure test and nothing dripped!
Should get the test kit Monday, like to sort it before I chuck another 800+ miles on her next week!
 
Leaking pump sometimes difficult to see. If you shine a torch down the side of the top hose onto the muck plate at the bottom you will see a wet area if it's leaking.
 
Finally looks like this one is sorted!
I did the dye leak test, nothing conclusive, couple of small drips underneath.
Pressure test, engine cold, engine hot engine stopped, engine running: 15psi for 20 mins, NO pressure drop!!
Its done 205K miles, original water pump, so I decided to change it.
Got a QH pump, which comes with the 3 seals, decided to change it by taking off the entire bracket, this also allowed me to check/change the bracket to block seal.
Pretty easy job, but I cocked up a bit by not emptying the PS reservoir, so it got a little messy when I disconnected the PS pipes!
The old pump was def "grindy" but no obvious leaks.
New pump in, more OAT!
Just come back from 1000 mile round trip to Fort William (incl some lovely off road driving!)
Water level not dropped at all!!!! Yey!!!!
Mark
 
markomate2 said:
Finally looks like this one is sorted!
I did the dye leak test, nothing conclusive, couple of small drips underneath.
Pressure test, engine cold, engine hot engine stopped, engine running: 15psi for 20 mins, NO pressure drop!!
Its done 205K miles, original water pump, so I decided to change it.
Got a QH pump, which comes with the 3 seals, decided to change it by taking off the entire bracket, this also allowed me to check/change the bracket to block seal.
Pretty easy job, but I cocked up a bit by not emptying the PS reservoir, so it got a little messy when I disconnected the PS pipes!
The old pump was def "grindy" but no obvious leaks.
New pump in, more OAT!
Just come back from 1000 mile round trip to Fort William (incl some lovely off road driving!)
Water level not dropped at all!!!! Yey!!!!
Mark
Click to expand...

So, what was at fault? and where was the coolant leaking from?

Cheers
 
Really no obvious smoking gun!
I can only assume that it was a small leak from the pump OR the bracket to block seal.
The bracket seal didnt look very healthy.
So its still a bit of a mystery!
It was def dripping before, small puddles would be present when parked up, it was getting worse, up to 1 litre every 2-3 days.
Ill keep checking it but fingers crossed its ok now.
 
The slight loss I had a couple of years ago was from the pump. It dripped from the bleed hole then evaporated. The UV dye was the only way I found it.
 
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