damp valley gasket

[adyw]

Gents I probably know the answer to this question but I have to ask.
Having not started the car for a month or two now when i opened up the bonnet at the weekend I noticed the valley gasket is wet, no coolant under the car, so where could it be coming from ??

[Hedgehopper]

On my car the leak was caused by the thermostat housing gasket failing. Judging by the rust it had leaked unnoticed for some time.

[steve-V8s]

May be worth checking the gauge temperature sensor is nipped up as they are ideally located to dribble onto the valley gasket. There are two temp sensors, the ECU one sits vertically and has a two pin connector, the gauge one has just one cable and is tucked under the manifold horizontally, it is threaded into a hexagonal brass arrangement which is itself threaded into the manifold. If it is not the stat housing or the gasket (the housings can crack so have a close look at it ) then my guess would be the temp sensor needs some fresh PTFE tape on the thread.

There are four waterways between the heads and the manifold, there rear ones are blind in the manifold but have water in the head side the front ones flow to the stat housing, I doubt any of those are leaking otherwise you would be a bit more aware of the problem

[DarkMatter]

I had coolant in the valley gasket that was also running over the bellhousing onto the ground. I found that the rearmost bolt for the inlet manifold on the left cylinder bank was not fully tightened and was allowing coolant to leak out.

[Belchy]

Hi Darkmatter

out of interest,
I see you obviously removed the offending bolt, but was the remedy a case of replacing the bolt at correct torque setting or did you have to replace the valley gasket ?

cheers

Belchy

[DarkMatter]

Belchy said:

Hi Darkmatter

out of interest,
I see you obviously removed the offending bolt, but was the remedy a case of replacing the bolt at correct torque setting or did you have to replace the valley gasket ?

cheers

Belchy

Hi Belchy,

I cleaned up the bolt and refitted it, that appears to have stopped the leak.

Replacing the (rusty) valley cover and gasket is still on my list of things to do.

[Belchy]

Hi Darkmatter oh bringer of hope!

Have removed ,cleaned up and torqued down the bolt ,and it seems to have sorted the leak I had on mine too!

Cheers for getting back swiftly,

Belchy.

[DarkMatter]

Belchy said:

Hi Darkmatter oh bringer of hope!

Have removed ,cleaned up and torqued down the bolt ,and it seems to have sorted the leak I had on mine too!

Cheers for getting back swiftly,

Belchy.

That's good news, I'm pleased to be of help.