Overheating/coolant loss issues

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gR@HaM

gR@HaM

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,095
Location
Cheshire
Hi All, it's been a while but im back with an issue with the disco!
I noticed once I got home Friday that the temperature reading was above half, so shut the engine down straight away. A quick inspection under the bonnet and I could see it was leaking water but due to the amount of steam and the fact it was dark couldn't see where it was coming from.
Started it back up today and managed to see it was coming from the front of the engine somewhere, certainly not any of the freeze plugs located on either side if the engine.
So I started to pull the front apart, remembering that when I changed the p-gasket a couple of months ago the aluminium 'block' (sorry I dont know the correct name) which mounts the water pump to the engine was pretty corroded.
So anyway, I've stripped it down and taken a couple of photos.

First question- is there anything else located in close proximity to the waterpump that the leak could be coming from, or should I work on the basis that it's the p-gasket? If it is the gasket, looking at it now I think I may have used too much sealant when installing it.

Secondly, from the photos does the corrosion on the aluminium casted block look ok?

Also, in an attempt to solve the route of the problem - this is the second time the engine has over heated recently, last time it blew a freeze plug near the exaust manifold - any ideas what could be causing it to overheat?
I'm going to change the thermostat as it hasn't been looked in the last 3years of me owning it.

Any advice much appreciated..
Thanks, Graham

photo-1130.jpg


photo-551.jpg


photo-732.jpg
 
Bad pump
bad pump gasket
bad expansion tank or cover
bad rad
bad head
bad head gasket
blocked rad
leaking core plug
wrong coolant mix
cracked block


those would be a major overheating problem areas and you're on p gasket, now if its still leaking from the mounting point area where its corroded, remove, clean fully! Apply some high temp instant gasket into the recess, allow to set slightly, apply gasket seal to pump and press together onto block

That'd help seal up the hole by plugging it with gasket, the only other way would be chem metal, metal powder like how you'd do a rapid prototype or some weld or skim off flat then fit a thick gasket to make up for the missing material
 
Thanks!
I can pretty much rule out most of the other potential causes on that list so am thinking it's the corroded water pump block. Was thinking I would bite the bullet and buy a replacement one, part# ERR3736 but can't find one for less than £200!!

Whilst I was under the disco I noticed a nasty leak from n/side autobox oil cooler pipe so am halfway through removing that, not a nice job when working on the main road with torch light - although could have been a lot worse if I hadn't noticed the leak!
 
Good thinking, don't think I have access to a lathe but will ask around.

The thermostat works!
photo-1981.jpg
 
Uuuuurgh!!
Have spent 2 full days scrabbling around in the cold, replaced auto oil cooler pipe - was a biatch to get the fitting off the rad but got there in the end.
I replaced water pump housing/bracket with second hand one off eBay (avenger 4x4) swapped everything across to the new housing, cleaned up both mating surfaces with wet and dry, fitted new p-gasket including sealant and started to put it all back together.
All was going well until I sheared the tensioner centre bolt in the housing!!
So I pulled it all off, angle grinded the back of the housing to allow access to tighten it back up with a nut on rear face. This worked quite well actually, can post photos later.
Anyway, I cleaned up the p-gasket and all mating surfaces, then put it all back together.. again.
That was yesterday, today i added coolant and started the engine up to find it's still leaking from front of the engine!!! Help!
The leak is too low to be coming from HG, the only area it seems to be coming from is either p-gasket (still!!) or possibly front core plug. TBH I wasn't thinking and never noticed the plug on front of the block, but since looking through a couple of photos now know it's there.

Any ideas??

I've since read to not use sealant on the p-gasket, I used it on both sides plus it may not have been the correct type. So am thinking of repeating all the above -again - this time without sealant, and also changing the coreplug..
 
Last edited:
Hmm, just to double, triple check - is there anything else in that area that could be causing the leak?
Gimme a sec shall post pictures..
 
Front of engine with used p-gasket, wish it wasn't there in the pic as can only see the top of the plug which looks ok. Btw is there another plug on rhs front of engine that could be causing it?
photo-1927.jpg.html


Marking on rear of pump housing:
photo-1516.jpg.html
 
Last edited:
gR@HaM said:
Uuuuurgh!!
Have spent 2 full days scrabbling around in the cold, replaced auto oil cooler pipe - was a biatch to get the fitting off the rad but got there in the end.
I replaced water pump housing/bracket with second hand one off eBay (avenger 4x4) swapped everything across to the new housing, cleaned up both mating surfaces with wet and dry, fitted new p-gasket including sealant and started to put it all back together.
All was going well until I sheared the tensioner centre bolt in the housing!!
So I pulled it all off, angle grinded the back of the housing to allow access to tighten it back up with a nut on rear face. This worked quite well actually, can post photos later.
Anyway, I cleaned up the p-gasket and all mating surfaces, then put it all back together.. again.
That was yesterday, today i added coolant and started the engine up to find it's still leaking from front of the engine!!! Help!
The leak is too low to be coming from HG, the only area it seems to be coming from is either p-gasket (still!!) or possibly front core plug. TBH I wasn't thinking and never noticed the plug on front of the block, but since looking through a couple of photos now know it's there.

Any ideas??

I've since read to not use sealant on the p-gasket, I used it on both sides plus it may not have been the correct type. So am thinking of repeating all the above -again - this time without sealant, and also changing the coreplug..
Click to expand...
sealant is fine on p gasket core plugf is erc4996 but could be head and running down ,but p gasket can easily become misplaced while fitting i use a slave stud to hold it while fitting housing
 
Thanks, I kind of figured that as long as the holes matched up to allow the bolts to fit through it would be ok, but maybe that wasn't the case..
 
gR@HaM said:
Oh.. and sealant both sides of the p-gasket?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Can anyone advise? Got day off work tmrw to strip it back down, have bought some new sealant (as maybe the other old stuff wasn't suitable) a replacement core plug and ANOTHER p-gasket!!!
 
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