Coolant leak help.

[SwanJack]

Got home yesterday and steam started coming through the bonnett vents. Open the bonnett and found a fine stream of water being jetted onto the pasenger side exhaust mainfold. Thought it was a leak at the water pump, but on closer inspection found it coming from further back and at the front of the engine. The first photo is taken side on from the passenger wheel arch, the second taken fromthe front of the engine. Is this a front engine/ timing chain cover leak? Thanks for any help.

[Belle427]

Comparing the photos to my engine it looks as if the area circled is where the front cover is joined to the engine. No idea why water would leak here.
Are you 100% sure its not spraying from a hose leak or pin hole somewhere?

[SwanJack]

Definately from there

[JWzed]

Looks like the timing cover gasket is leaking to me. Front of the engine and sump will need to come to bits I'm afraid. Renew timing cover crankshaft oil seal while you are about it.
I also renewed the water pump at the same time only because I didn't know the pedigree of the old one. Rgds.

[SwanJack]

Thanks, from what i've read it's not a complicated job. It needs an oil change and a new oil pressure light sender anyway. Probably leave the water pump as i've had the car from almost new. Any pitfalls?

Edited by SwanJack on Sunday 26th November 12:10

[Classic Chim]

Just check the water pump drain hole.
Follow the water pump pulley wheel shaft back into the pump and look for a small drilled hole.
This hole is situated between to seals so if one goes you should get a slight weep from there that can then get flashed about and appear to come from elsewhere.
I’m sure your right but check anyway, the idea is you notice water dripping if it’s got passed the first seal before it then breaches the second seal and dumps water everywhere very quickly.
Often as it’s only a small leak engine heat dries it so look for sticky green stuff in that area.

[Steve_D]

Around that area there is a small stub coming from the head which in earlier cars had a hose going to heat the throttle body. On later cars there is a short hose normally with a bolt stuffed into the end to blank it off
.
You do need to track this down as you do not want to take the timing cover off if it is not the issue. There are no water passages in the timing cover but the bolts go into holes in the block which are open to the water jacket. These bolts are normally fitted with a sealant so your repair may be nothing more than removing the offending bolt and refitting it with sealant.

Steve

[jojackson4]

It just so happens I have one on the bench



Looks like your leak is from the main water pump track

If you doing it put a pump on there only £60 you will be very pissed off if it fails when you have got it back together

[Chimp871]

OP - I've had the same problem if its water from the timing cover. It was due to a failing timing gasket, in may case the car overheated and the oil pressure relief valve got stuck.

Picture below shows coolant channel in top right circled where the gasket has failed. Fix it now and then rule it out. You'll need to drain/change oil at the same time.

[SwanJack]

Yes it's definitely leaking from there, can see the water squirting out from the corner of the cover. Will sorn the car which will pay for the parts and do it bit by bit over the winter. Need new coolant pipes as well so ill get nice new shiny ones!

[Chimp871]

It's not such a difficult job, just takes time. But you'll trust the car a whole lot more if you do it.

At least it didn't overheat in your case which brings it's own set of problems.

[Sardonicus]

Change the front crankshaft seal too and observe pulley tightening torque

[Garethbaker]

Hi all, same happened to mine yesterday
Keen to hear how you got on doing the job. Any issues, did the oil pump need anythig special treatment? How did you go bleeding the system after?

[Steve_D]

just been typing this on another thread.
Paste..
What engine type is it? Serp or pre-serp.

Serp will have no issues with oil pump but the pre-serp usually do.

If a pre-serp engine has been stripped I pull the dizzy and use a tool in an electric drill to spin up the pump. I know when I have good pressure as the torque nearly rips the drill out of your hands.
If you don't have access to a tool then you need to strip the pump down and pack it with vasaline then rebuild. Also make sure you fill the new oil filter with new oil. You will need to do an oil change as coolant will flood into the sump when you remove the timing cover.

Also consider how confident you are with the condition of the cam, the water pump etc.
It's no small job getting the timing cover off when a few more bolts will have the inlet removed to inspect the cam.

Steve

[SwanJack]

Not a difficult, job, took my time and all worked out fine. Can't believe it was three years ago!

[Garethbaker]

Hi guys, it's a Serp 4.0, started the job yesterday thanks to your encouragement I elected not to let the garage do it. Have a mate coming over with air tools to undo the crank shift bolt. What size socket do we need, I've seen various 15/16th is there a metric equivalent? Cheers Gareth

[Garethbaker]

[Garethbaker]

[Garethbaker]

I think it's obvious now why it was leaking, glad to get this far and found a failure(s). What's the best way to pop the oil seal out?

Edited by Garethbaker on Monday 27th April 11:12

[Steve_D]

Garethbaker said:

........ What's the best way to pop the oil seal out?........

From inside tap it out with a broad blade screwdriver.

Steve