P38 diesel mystery coolant loss

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Ok so I blew through the hose and also ran the engine briefly with it off so that coolant flowed out, now there is a steady flow of coolant coming from the breather pipe into the expansion tank, only been on a short trip and it hasn't pushed any more through the overflow yet.
 
Do you actuly see it come out of the overflow pipe ?

You can alway put a small bottle in line to make sure could be a cracked expansion tank.
 
Ok so I found out where the coolant was going, into the oil. It's been pushing oil out of the top of the dipstick so I took the cam cover off to see if the filter inside was clogged and found a puddle of coolant under the camshaft :) I didn't think that just because a sniff test comes back the clear it dowsnt mean that the head gasket hasn't gone elsewhere, but then again there isn't any emulsification on the filler cap or dipstick. Any idea on how much it's going to cost? Cheers.
 
Gazza36 said:
Ok so I found out where the coolant was going, into the oil. It's been pushing oil out of the top of the dipstick so I took the cam cover off to see if the filter inside was clogged and found a puddle of coolant under the camshaft :) I didn't think that just because a sniff test comes back the clear it dowsnt mean that the head gasket hasn't gone elsewhere, but then again there isn't any emulsification on the filler cap or dipstick. Any idea on how much it's going to cost? Cheers.
Click to expand...
Coolant under the camshaft? How the heck has it got there unless the head iseriously cracked. I suppose it might be possible from HGF if it can creep up a stud or an oil way.
Just hope it's HGF or it will be very expensive:eek:
 
Datatek said:
Coolant under the camshaft? How the heck has it got there unless the head iseriously cracked. I suppose it might be possible from HGF if it can creep up a stud or an oil way.
Just hope it's HGF or it will be very expensive:eek:
Click to expand...

Hmmmm, yes it was bright cherry colour and quite pure as I say no emulsification apart from some on the inside of the cam cover.
 
Grit Valve said:
[MAP][/MAP]
Yes if you can find a cheap indi garage that's the minimum
You got a big decision on your hands.
Click to expand...

Indeed. I could get a whole other car for that, but then maybe it's better the devil you know, I might take it off the road (again) until winter and hopefully I might have got it fixed by then. The tax is up at the end o the month as well.
 
Gazza36 said:
Could this be a core plug? Was suggested today just wondered cheers guys.
Click to expand...

Core plugs are in the outer faces of casting used for removing casting core. Then sealed. Engines don't have internal core plugs. Anything internal would be a threaded plug not a core plug.
 
Just an update, my mechanic thinks it could be the threaded plugs in the head that are leaking, I think they are located either side of the camshaft, does anyone know what I'm on about? Cheers.
 
Gazza36 said:
Just an update, my mechanic thinks it could be the threaded plugs in the head that are leaking, I think they are located either side of the camshaft, does anyone know what I'm on about? Cheers.
Click to expand...

Yes i know what you mean should be six of them, but if they are leaking it is VERY unusual indeed.
 
Gazza36 said:
lol thanks anyway, my garage has one of course but its a favour so not sure when it's going to get done, may just make a tester myself. Any ideas on where to obtain these plugs? cheers.
Click to expand...

I have the full kit. But you can get spare cap adaptors from the likes of Sykes Pickavant. That would be a start.
 
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