Water leak?

[tim wragg]

A bit of advice please. I have a 1998 450 which runs like a dream, but I always seem to get a few drops of antifreeze on the floor when I take the car out of the garage. It seems to be coming from the front of the engine right in the centre under the water pump, but I cannot se where it is coming from. Temperature stays cionstant at around 75 degrees and the swirl pot has not gone down noticably. Someone mentioned the valley gasket, but the engine (now 62k miles) was fully rebuilt about 6000 miles ago by TVR power. Ani deas please.

thanks

[Number 7]

You may need a mirror to check this, but there will be a small hole under the water pump shaft, at the lowest point. If the coolant is coming from there, it indicates that the internal seals are going and it's time to replace the pump before it fails completely. It might also be coming from one of the holes in the circumference of the pump which does not have a bolt through it - they locate on dowells on the timing cover. Its just possible, although unlikely, that the gasket may have failed at that point - in which case you just need a new gasket.

7.

[ntel]

tim wragg said:

A bit of advice please. I have a 1998 450 which runs like a dream, but I always seem to get a few drops of antifreeze on the floor when I take the car out of the garage. It seems to be coming from the front of the engine right in the centre under the water pump, but I cannot se where it is coming from. Temperature stays cionstant at around 75 degrees and the swirl pot has not gone down noticably. Someone mentioned the valley gasket, but the engine (now 62k miles) was fully rebuilt about 6000 miles ago by TVR power. Ani deas please. thanks

Tim, Check that the hose clip is tight at the connection to the thermostat housing. I seem to remember having to check that in the past. Also check that the thermostat housing bolts are tight and that the gasket isn't leaking. If there is a leak I'll bet my bottom dollar its coming from that general area. How are ya anyway?

Dave C

>> Edited by ntel on Wednesday 8th March 20:08

[tim wragg]

Cheers guys will have a look, sounds much more promising than a valley gasket (which is should not be anyway). I'll have a look Thursday night and see what's what.

Doing real good Dave, not had him out much lately due to work and weather. Looking forwards to lighter nights and better weather until i get used to his potential.

[chim666]

Check for water along the timing cover joint with the main block - mine went a few years ago, though it was leaking rather more than you describe - tuppence ha'penny for the gasket plus a couple of hour's labour!

[ntel]

Did you find the leak then Tim?

[brioss]

I have exactly the same problem on my 98 450, I need to get a good look at it at the weekend.

[tim wragg]

Not sorted the leak. If I look down from the top, where the steering column meets the rack is where the water seems to be dripping on the floor. Did 50 miles on Sunday, temp guage did not move, water levels look fine (3" in the expansion tank, left it running outside, nothing on the floor. Parked in the garage and a few hours later had a small puddle 2" diameter under aforementioned bit on the steering rack (what ever that bit is called). Could it just be my expansion tank "breathing"???