White powder - coolant leakage?

[philcerbera]

Anyone come across this before? It’s a 4.5 mid 1998 model with 20k miles. I'm guessing that the white powder is leakage from the cooling system. The coolant levels are fine though, but it needs fixing. Is it an amateur job or one for the professionals?








>>> Edited by philcerbera on Saturday 20th December 16:53

[ro_butler]

Errrr,

to me that looks more like the 'inner bonnet' bit is rubbing on the airbox. IIRC no coolant runs near the airboxes and anyway it shouldn't be white.

Have you taken the little 'inner bonnet' off to have a closer look? May reveal a bit more.

Don't panic just yet.

Rob.

[bilton_d]

the airbox is set too high and is rubbing against the slam panel, this will eventually wear a V into the airbox or worse even a hole.

[philcerbera]

Thanks Guys and I'll take a closer look.

I don't know if you can see on these pictures but there is a line of fluid going downwards from the white powder. Also the white stuff appears to be sprayed in all directions. Closer up it looks like a dryed up discharge from somewhere rather than the result of two things rubiing together.

[gadget9]

I would think it is most likely powder from rubbing panels mixed with rain ingress

[Habib]

agree, had this and it was a mal adjusted airbox

[RUSSELLM]

Has Robbie Fowler ever borrowed the car ?

[Apache]

snow?

[satman]

Definately where the panel is rubbing against air box and then the white grp powder has mixed with some rain and run down....mine has done this several times. This seemed to be caused on mine, when the bonnet rubbers in the centre of the scuttle panel had worn away and made the bonnet sit lower,therfore pressing on this part of the scuttle panel causing it to rest slightly on the air box. Vibration and slight bonnet movment was enought to cause problem.Replaced these rubbers and problem gone.

[Joe Cozy]

Habib said:

agree, had this and it was a mal adjusted airbox

Is a maladjusted airbox one which doesn't turn up to car school and fights with all the other airboxes? Maybe it's an Autistic airbox or Aspergers and can't communicate well with the rest of the car?

:get your coat joe:

[philcerbera]

Weather was good today so I took a closer look…..and you guys were absolutely correct.

I've had the car a few months and from size of the 'v' worn in the air box it looks as if the problem has been there for sometime. I was able to lower the RH box to the same height as the LH box. There was already a lower hole in the box bracket to allow the height reduction so I don’t understand why it wasn’t used in the first place? Also, I made sure the box didn’t rest on anything below it that might get hot.

I also took the time to access the volume potentiometer for the indicators behind the dash and reduce the volume somewhat. And best of all it’s going to be good weather out there tomorrow!

Thanks again for the advice.