Water leak into engine V.....

[TV8]

The last couple of times I have used the car, I have noticed a small water leak, dropping near the middle of the car but only just had the chance to look at it. Sure enough, there is a small amount of water in the V just visible with a borescope behind the plenum from the drivers side. It must run down the side of the bell housing.

I don't have a big garage so will get a proper look at it in the daylight when I can get to both side but apart from the Valley Gasket, any suggestions where it could be coming from please?

Thanks in advance

[jojackson4]

Heater pipes
Thermostat housing/pipe

[ianwayne]

It could be the inlet manifold gasket itself if water is getting into the V beneath the plenum. Only the front waterways are used on TVR manifold as seen here:

[phazed]

There is water in the block to the rear. It is just sealed by solid areas of manifold.

If it hasn't been sealed properly in that area it can still leak.

You could check the manifold bolts for tightness. They may not have been torqued properly in the first place.

[ianwayne]

Good point. I should have mentioned that the heads have a waterway at the rear but that the inlet manifold blanks it off, and the gasket has a cutout for this waterway even though it is not used.

[TV8]

A few things to check then! It looks tight for space under there and hopefully there is more visibility from the passenger side.

[Sardonicus]

The 2 water ports at the rear of the cyl heads are no less likely to leak than the front ones even if they are capped by the in manifold , maybe the inlet manifold gasket coating is failing there are some sub standard in manifold gaskets around

[TJC46]

Check all around the thermostat area, and the top hose connection.
I found water and it was the top silicon hose not being tight enough. The coolant would leak only by a tiny bit, but over a period of time it collected in the valley.
Check the temp probe as well, the one below the thermostat. Coolant can sometimes get past the threads and leak.

[ruhall]

I had the same as above, also with silicon hose on the thermostat housing. After eventually removing the hose I found that the load of 'crud' formed over a period of time of very gradual minor weeping resulted in a poor seal. Just needed a good clean-up.

[TV8]

Thanks everyone - all checked and hopefully resolved today. The silicone hose to the thermostat was loose and weeping.

[phazed]

All that remote diagnosing and its just a loose hose.

What are you like Graham!

In all seriousness, the aluminium neck of the thermostat housing can corrode and the buildup of corrosion stops the hose sealing on the aluminium neck.

[TV8]

phazed said:

All that remote diagnosing and its just a loose hose.

What are you like Graham!

In all seriousness, the aluminium neck of the thermostat housing can corrode and the buildup of corrosion stops the hose sealing on the aluminium neck.

It has been parked up against the wall of the garage and I couldn't see it from the side I had access

All fixed and have been using the car all day. I went to pick my wife up from her Yoga course this evening and she heard me arrive when they were all doing meditation!

[phazed]

TV8 said:

she heard me arrive when they were all doing meditation!

Good man!

[Classic Chim]

phazed said:

TV8 said:

she heard me arrive when they were all doing meditation!

Good man!

[Sir Paolo]

TV8 said:

Thanks everyone - all checked and hopefully resolved today.
silicone hose to the thermostat was loose and weeping.

Glad you sorted it- Silicone hoses (unlike rubber) often need re-tightening after the first few heat cycles

[Sardonicus]

Decent hose clips are the key , not jubilee style either (can cut into silicone hose) but proper band style