P38 heater o-rings: draining tips?

marjon · Saturday at 13:51

Flossie said:
You can buy a nissens matrix that has the 19mm outlets for a better job but more expensive.
I got one with the 19mm because I thought my seals had gone again but it was just a loose bolt.
Mines still on the shelf in the workshop. In two minds as to sell it or not but I can get the part number off the box for you at least if you want.

The minute you sell, you know what will happen.
Confucius : He say "man with Land rover product need many spares available"

We brought a little snow blower, only used it 1 year, but its doing its job

.

J

P38 Monkey · Saturday at 16:43

The leak suddenly got worse. See the photo - looks like the o-ring joint is leaking and coolant runs down the end of the matrix. But the screw is tight. I guess I’ll take the joint apart and see what’s wrong. Does the joint look OK and correctly settled in place? Or is that top pipe not quite in place? Maybe the o-rings are duff - perhaps I should fit fatter ones….

Dippypud · Saturday at 16:45

P38 Monkey said:
The leak suddenly got worse. See the photo - looks like the o-ring joint is leaking and coolant runs down the end of the matrix. But the screw is tight. I guess I’ll take the joint apart and see what’s wrong. Does the joint look OK and correctly settled in place? Maybe the o-rings are duff - perhaps I should fit fatter ones….

View attachment 334305

Hard to measure the old ones if they're naff, maybe someone knows the specs

Datatek · Saturday at 16:46

P38 Monkey said:
The leak suddenly got worse. See the photo - looks like the o-ring joint is leaking and coolant runs down the end of the matrix. But the screw is tight. I guess I’ll take the joint apart and see what’s wrong. Does the joint look OK and correctly settled in place? Or is tyat top pipe not quite in place? Maybe the o-rings are duff - perhaps I should fit fatter ones….

View attachment 334305

Duff O rings or maybe the 2 halves of the joint are slightly misaligned?

P38 Monkey · Saturday at 16:47

Dippypud said:
Hard to measure the old ones if they're naff, maybe someone knows the specs

The old ones were perished, hard, and broke when removed. I fitted new Britpart ones, bought off ebay, what could possibly go wrong…

P38 Monkey · Saturday at 16:49

Datatek said:
Duff O rings or maybe the 2 halves of the joint are slightly misaligned?

You previously mentioned fatter ones - do you have the spec perchance? While I have the joint apart, may as well fit the best…

Datatek · Saturday at 16:55

P38 Monkey said:
You previously mentioned fatter ones - do you have the spec perchance? While I have the joint apart, may as well fit the best…

Sorry, no I don't, my O rings came from Island 4 x 4 for both cars and have been trouble free now for a long time. Hope that hasn't jinxed it

P38 Monkey · Saturday at 17:18

Mine are Allmakes from Wick 4x4, long term eBay dealer, so should be OK. I’ll check alignment and see if that’s the problem. Loosen screw, wiggle joint, the usual procedure.

Datatek · Saturday at 17:24

I ga

P38 Monkey said:
Mine are Allmakes from Wick 4x4, long term eBay dealer, so should be OK. I’ll check alignment and see if that’s the problem. Loosen screw, wiggle joint, the usual procedure.

View attachment 334308

I gave the O rings a coat of silicone grease when I did mine.

pwood999 · Saturday at 18:14

The gap between the metal pipes & matrix is definitely at an angle in that picture. Does look mis-aligned to me ?

Dippypud · Saturday at 19:16

Might pay to have a quick eyeball over the O-rings in case they have a 'pinch' or flat on them now ....

Flossie · Saturday at 20:05

I used genuine ones from LR, £9 the pair, pricey but I wasn't risking it.
Wiped out the ports with toilet paper and wire wooled the pipe ends rotational. Bit of spit for lube.

P38 Monkey · 2025-02-02T15:53:40+0000

Am not getting anywhere with this - the leak gets worse and worse. Different o-rings, same result. Photo of original (replacement) rings attached - they look different sizes but that’s just the photo. As soon as I start the engine, coolant drips from the joint area. All looks nice and level, see photo, coolant around head of Allen bolt - how did it get there? I am wondering if there is a crack in the manifold that the pipes fit into. UV dye on order, maybe that will show it.

Datatek · 2025-02-02T17:04:20+0000

P38 Monkey said:
Am not getting anywhere with this - the leak gets worse and worse. Different o-rings, same result. Photo of original (replacement) rings attached - they look different sizes but that’s just the photo. As soon as I start the engine, coolant drips from the joint area. All looks nice and level, see photo, coolant around head of Allen bolt - how did it get there? I am wondering if there is a crack in the manifold that the pipes fit into. UV dye on order, maybe that will show it.

View attachment 334379

View attachment 334380

I wonder if the bolt has been overtightened if it has distorted the assembly? Looks like you may end up with a matrix replacement job.

P38 Monkey · 2025-02-02T17:24:15+0000

Datatek said:
I wonder if the bolt has been overtightened if it has distorted the assembly? Looks like you may end up with a matrix replacement job.

Could be - I tightened to 3Nm when it started to leak, but prior to that it was at 2.2 Nm, which is not much.. To put it in perspective, RR Rave lists it at 5Nm. As you say, looks like an Audi matrix upgrade and no more O-ring problems.

Datatek · 2025-02-02T17:25:25+0000

P38 Monkey said:
Could be - I tightened to 3Nm when it started to leak, but prior to that it was at 2.2 Nm. As you say, looks like an Audi matrix upgrade and no more O-ring problems.

That's tough, big job, guess I was lucky with both mine.

P38 Monkey · 2025-02-02T17:36:26+0000

Datatek said:
That's tough, big job, guess I was lucky with both mine.

I’ll fit a u bend, get a little electric heater, wear my sheepskin pilot jacket, good gloves, and pray for warmer weather!

Dippypud · 2025-02-02T17:38:10+0000

P38 Monkey said:
I’ll fit a u bend, get a little electric heater, wear my sheepskin pilot jacket, good gloves, and pray for warmer weather!

Not this week sadly ...

Rubberknees · 2025-02-02T20:45:06+0000

P38 Monkey said:
I’ll fit a u bend, get a little electric heater, wear my sheepskin pilot jacket, good gloves, and pray for warmer weather!

Been there done that

P38 heater o-rings: draining tips?

marjon

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P38 Monkey

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Dippypud

Never Knowingly Understood

Datatek

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P38 Monkey

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P38 Monkey

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Datatek

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P38 Monkey

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Datatek

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pwood999

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Dippypud

Never Knowingly Understood

Flossie

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P38 Monkey

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Datatek

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P38 Monkey

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Datatek

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P38 Monkey

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Dippypud

Never Knowingly Understood

Rubberknees

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