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        General >> Problems >> Coolant Leak
        
(Message started by: Lynne69 on Sep 26^th, 2006, 9:29pm)

Title: Coolant Leak
Post by Lynne69 on Sep 26^th, 2006, 9:29pm

Just got my car back 2 weeks ago after having the cylinder head replaced, if I go to work about a 15 to 20 miniute drive then let it sit all day till 5oclock come home it's fine, but I yesterday I left work at 10am to go to bank 10min drive when I came back to work and checked the coolant it had gone down below the min mark I filled it back up checked it when I got home it was fine left work today to take my son to dentist 5 or 6 miles from work when I got out of car there was steam pouring out opened bonnet and it had blowen the (not sure but think it's the) expansion pipe off and it was hissing and spitting let it cool down filled it up again drove home and it was fine it only seems to leak when the engine is really warm, tem gauge dosen't pass the middle and hot air only works when it's turned up to high. sorry this is a bit long winded but don't know how else to explain it.

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by hellblue on Sep 26^th, 2006, 9:38pm

Posible air lock?,hose not fitted right?, what does the garage that did the work say??

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by Lynne69 on Sep 26^th, 2006, 9:42pm

A friend done the cylinder head and he's in Turkey on holiday so I can't ask.

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by jonnycab on Sep 27^th, 2006, 12:05am

Does the temp guage go up & down...i.e....will suddenly rise up to middle when engine is getting hot & then suddenly drop? If so then probably an air lock or thermostat jammed.
After replacing the head, then unless you refill the cooling system properly then airlocks can form.
Also, it has been known for the thermostat to be re-fitted the wrong way round. :)

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by Dave on Sep 27^th, 2006, 7:33am

Check you are not putting a bit too much coolant in when you top up. I did this on my 24v and it had a similar fit, think it needs to be just above min when cold as it rises to max when hot otherwise the system goes "ey up, too much pressure here, better let some coolant out".

Or something like that :D

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by Lynne69 on Sep 27^th, 2006, 9:02am

Temp gauge just rises to the middle or a tiny bit above it's not erratic it dosen't go up and down, I probably did over fill the coolant as it seems to leak when the engine gets warm and as I'm now paranoid about the water since the gaskets went I'm forever checking it, don't know anything about the thermostat

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by jonnycab on Sep 27^th, 2006, 9:30am

If the temp is okay then the thermostat is probably okay. :)

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by bizzay1 on Sep 27^th, 2006, 10:21am

when the head was done a) was the head skimmed ?? & b) were the head bolts replaced ??

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by Dave on Sep 27^th, 2006, 11:02am

Might be an idea to check the coolant tank cap too. This has a pressure relief valve in the top which can go wrong, also the seal can give up. Had to replace mine due to this a few months back.

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by Lynne69 on Sep 28^th, 2006, 9:53am

Yes head was skimmed and new bolts also new cap for coolant bottle, hose hasn't came off since but it still leaks water when hot, I got stuck in traffic yesterday morning when I got to work I checked coolant and it was below min I just don't know where it's leaking from.

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by jonnycab on Sep 28^th, 2006, 10:27am

Where in the engine is it wet? :)

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by Lynne69 on Sep 28^th, 2006, 10:53am

Don't know will have to check it at the weekend if it is dry, it has been wet and windy here all week so it's a bit difficult to tell.

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by sector-9 on Sep 28^th, 2006, 8:50pm

Could just be a failing hose - top hose on my diesel started leaking for no apparent reason at the join with the expansion tank pipe. Only happened when the system was pressurised so I ran it for a few days with the rubber seal on the cap removed until I could replace the hose... ;)

Darren

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by Havinga on Sep 28^th, 2006, 10:37pm

if the heads bin off then it could be head or could be
the those pain in the a**e o'rings on the coolant inlets to the head, the ones in the V.

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by jonnycab on Sep 29^th, 2006, 9:38am

What size engine is it?

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by Lynne69 on Sep 29^th, 2006, 2:11pm

was 2.3 but I couldn't find a 2.3 head, had to use 2.0

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by RichardMS on Sep 29^th, 2006, 2:34pm

Common problem with the 2.3 is for the head to crack between ports 2 & 3 which is hardly visible, Hope this is not the case with you're 2.0 head as this would cause the problems you mention, I would say that it is more likely an airlock as metioned before.
Run the car until hot with the expansion tank cap off and the heater on hot, fill the cooling system with the engine stil running & watch for air coming out, It may force some water out a few times, this will be the trapped air escaping.
Do this until no more air comes out & the water remains stable, replace cap & switch engine off, If you hear knocks & the hoses start to shake then there is still air in the system.

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by jonnycab on Sep 30^th, 2006, 2:56am

If you can't see where it is leaking then it could be the inlet manifold is cracked just behind the thermostat housing (hard to spot a leak there).
If you put your hand deep under the thermostat housing (when it's cold) & you feel any wetness around where the temp sender & ect sensors are then you may have found the leak :)

Just a thought :)

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by sector-9 on Sep 30^th, 2006, 11:09am

Can the 2.0 head be fitted to the 2.3 block without any mods? Suprises me if it can but I've never seen either...

Darren

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by Lynne69 on Oct 2^nd, 2006, 11:54am

Thanks for your help, car was air locked and the inlet manifold is also leaking, my Grandfather worked on cars and motorbikes years ago so I used his method and sealed it with egg white (which seems to be working) until I can get a replacement as it's for MOT tomorrow.

Two members from the forums told me that I could use the 2.0 head instead of 2.3, also used 2.0 cam shafts but everything else just fitted back in place.

Title: Re: Coolant Leak
Post by RichardMS on Oct 2^nd, 2006, 6:52pm

Glad you have got it sorted for now, where is the inlet manifold leaking from, gasket or is it split.
I wonder if the 2.0 inlet manifold can be fitted also as it is a much better design being alloy :-/