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[amba]

I thought I had finally solved the annoying coolant leak after several months and numerous pipes/valves/sealant replaced but its back again.

Symptoms:

When engine is started from cold (left overnight) no sign of any leak until engine has ben running for several minutes when a slight plume of steam rises from the back of the n/s of engine which stops after a minute or so.Evidence of burnt off coolant on n/s manifold /downpipe joint and sweet smell of anitfreeze.
Level in coolant bottle is checked regularly and tends to only ever drop as much as 30/4omm and has never brought warning on,although perhaps this is because I check and top up as required .Need to add coolant around once a week .
HBV is new along with all heater pipes and clamps.Oil cooler replaced along with thermostat/new dowty washers and sealing ring gasket to back of transfer pipe to head.
Coolant quality has always been good so would be surprised if HG has perished although that is now my suspision or maybe core plug.

Sure I am on the right course of diagnosis with this but would welcome any further advise.

Have done numerous pressure tests and holds a steady 15/18psi.

[cem_devecioglu]

pressure tests only show hg problem when fire rings are damaged.. so its not trustable alone..
 
looking at your cars age its not a far possiblity..  on my car was similiar.. fire rings were ok but was loosing coolant above the alternator corner..

[Andy H]

+1 for a weeping headgasket.

My previous 1994 2.5 v6 displayed the same symptoms.

The leak was at the back of the passenger side cylinder head just below the coil pack.

I drove it for months like it before finally taking the heads off & fixing it

[YZ250]

+1 for a weeping headgasket.

My previous 1994 2.5 v6 displayed the same symptoms.

The leak was at the back of the passenger side cylinder head just below the coil pack.

I drove it for months like it before finally taking the heads off & fixing it

Same here on my previous 1998 2.5 V6. Took me ages to find the leak as the engine heat evaporated it before I could find it and it never leaked on the floor. I did finally find a tell-tale white water mark at the outer rear of the nearside cylinder head. 
When I removed the cylinder head, the head gasket had rotted in that area.

[flyer 0712]

Ask a garage to wave the gas machine over the header tank this will pick up any gasses leaking into the water system.....failing that ask them to test the header tank with a head gasket tester that contains blue liquid and if gasses are present in the system the fluid will change colour to green....sure way of telling if head gasket is leaking gasses..

[Andy H]

Ask a garage to wave the gas machine over the header tank this will pick up any gasses leaking into the water system.....failing that ask them to test the header tank with a head gasket tester that contains blue liquid and if gasses are present in the system the fluid will change colour to green....sure way of telling if head gasket is leaking gasses..

That test won't be helpful in this case.

The OP is searching for a coolant leak on the outside of the engine.

[amba]

Plenty of evidence and support for weeping H.G which was my original suspision .

At 220k I think I will just live with it and keep a close eye on coolant levels as removing the heads at that mileage seeems a bit silly .