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[humbucker]

hi all

ok, so i'm after any 'ahhh have you tried looking at this' suggestions really.

well documented coolant leak, topping up every week.

replaced heater bypass valve
heater matrix burst not long after
replaced heater matrix
replaced oil cooler
replaced coolant bridge
replaced water pump (when cambelt done last week)

still dripping down back of engine block on to ground below. left a washing up bowl under the car to see whats what, the coolant now looks clean as a whistle (no oily tinge to it) but it's dripping from somewhere!

also leaving a deposit overnight when the engine isn't running if that brings to mind any ideas...

checked hoses, can't see anything untoward...

is there a way of determining if your hbv is working? this might be a stupid question. bought new vx one, just hoped it isnt duff. no evidence of leakage there or on accompanying hoses so probably nothing to do with it...

any suggestions welcome really, would like to nip it in the bud!

thanks in advance!

 

[Entwood]

Given everything you've checked/changed ... I'm wondering if a clip/clamp has split/pierced a hose somewhere ??

It may be such a small hole that as things heat up the expansion closes the hole so it doesn't leak ... I'm wondering if a modified header tank cap, with a tyre valve inserted, would allow you to pressurise the system a bit to help look for the leak

I'm assuming you changed the Dowty washers on the coolant bridge when you did the oil cooler ??

 :-/ :-/

[f13platform]

there is bolt under the coolant  

holding plastic cover in top of the front wheel (driver side)

take the coolant out see if that bolt made hole in coolant

i ve seen it in my car

[humbucker]

I'm assuming you changed the Dowty washers on the coolant bridge when you did the oil cooler ??

yeah changed dowty washers, and changed thermostat at the same time too, missed that one off the list!!  

[Entwood]

well .. the next suggestion is a tad "off-the-wall" but has been successful in the past ( about 20 years ago on a cortina 1300 x-flow!!).....  

Drain and flush system fully, filling with just clean water ... add some very bright yellow food colouring - may need a couple of small bottles on such a large capacity system - run engine to point at which leak is known to occur...

The theory is that you "should" be able to see the yellow of the leak easier than clear water.....

Once found .. fix, drain, flush, fill with 50/50 antifreeze...

sounds really simple doesn't it !!!!

Good luck  ..

[duggs]

Been there...recently.  In my case I had a small leak from a pipe, RIGHT AT THE BACK of the engine. My mechanic took an age to find it and get to the bugger to replace it.

A £1.50 rubber hose cost me over £200.00..the leak killed the Dis/Coil pack...

NEVER AGAIN WILL I IGNORE A LOSING WATER "FROM SOMEWHERE".

[humbucker]

thankfully it has encouraged me to get onto the things i had been neglecting for a while; oil cooler, stat etc... but now all major problem areas are fixed up i am inclined to believe it must be a dodgy hose or something.

duggs, was your leak any hose in particular?