Coolant leak.

Ched · 9th December 2012, 09:00

After suffering from a coolant leak these last couple of weeks I bought a pair of img's and did the work yesterday as the weather was nice,
When I removed the front manifold it was then obvious this was the source of the leak as well as there being water on the valves of one cylinder.
The rear manifold appeared to be intact ( just ) but it was changed as well.
The front gasket is the top one in the pics.
Hopefully thats that sorted, just need to keep a close eye on it for a few days.

maxtherotti · 9th December 2012, 09:07

well done its not a great job to do

i have got a set to do on mine as i suspect mine is leaking in the same place (got a thermostat to throw in at the same time while im there)

Rob

SD1too · 9th December 2012, 09:10

Hi David,

Well done! I've just reviewed your earlier thread about the sustained water loss but with virtually no other symptoms apart from a trace of 'mayonnaise' in the expansion tank. Thanks for sharing with us what the fault actually was.

I wonder why this happens to some cars and not others. Were there any signs that the inlet manifold had been removed before? I've always taken the precaution of tightening all the bolts to the recommended torque.

Simon.

Ched · 9th December 2012, 09:28

Cheers Rob, the worst part I found was removing the manifold, you really need hardwood or a hard plastic for the wedges.

Simon, this engine hasnt been apart from the day it left the factory,I found it awkward trying do undo and tighten the inner alloy manifold bolts on the front bank, none of which appeared to be tight anyway, the rest of it came apart fairly easily.

The car has just turned 80000 miles and I suspect the use of oat coolant the reason the very flimsy rubber has given way.
The mayo was actually in the oil filler cap which is why I decided to change these gaskets.

I replaced with genuine MG/Rover gaskets but I'd like to know if the Landrover version has more meat on them so to speak.

maxtherotti · 9th December 2012, 09:48

yep allmost the same miles as mine (85k)
mine does exactly the same (small coolant loss/mayo in filler cap/very light staining in the valley but mine also has a very slight misfire for a few seconds when starting from hot as i suspect its leaking from the inlet gasket and going into the cylinder)

will be changing mine in the new year when i get 5 mins off work lol

Rob

SD1too · 9th December 2012, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ched

... I found it awkward trying do undo and tighten the inner alloy manifold bolts on the front bank, none of which appeared to be tight anyway ...

That's what I was wondering might be the case; loose bolts equals poor gasket seal.

Quote:

... I suspect the use of oat coolant the reason the very flimsy rubber has given way.

Maybe, but I've always used OAT with no problems. I'd say that the loose bolts would be a more likely explanation.

Quote:

The mayo was actually in the oil filler cap which is why I decided to change these gaskets.

Thanks very much for that which confirms that it isn't always head gasket failure with these symptoms.

Quote:

I replaced with genuine MG/Rover gaskets but I'd like to know if the Landrover version has more meat on them so to speak.

I've also used the MGR gaskets. If the bolts are tightened using a torque wrench there's no reason why they should leak.

Simon.

Simon.h · 9th December 2012, 15:33

Is this because of a 50% OAT mix eating the gaskets again!

T-Cut · 9th December 2012, 16:59

It will if you don't service the cooling system. The reasons why OAT disintegrates polymers is well known and is basically a consequence of frequent overheating. There's a recent thread on this very topic.

TC

Ched · 9th December 2012, 17:14

It does'nt apply in this case TC,up until a couple of weeks ago the coolant level didnt alter and there was never any overheating as the fans work as intended.

I wonder if it could be a combination of oat and the manifold bolts working themselves loose albeit only slightly over time, unless they were never torqued correctly at the build stage.

T-Cut · 9th December 2012, 18:37

Possibly. 'Overheating' includes microscopic places where coolant can get way above normal temperature. A slack bolt will allow OAT to bleed into areas of zero flow, so it simply gets hotter and hotter till it breaks down with the glycol into things that soften polymers (a plasticiser). Once the vicious circle is started it gets worse as the leak increases due to seal collapse.

TC

9th December 2012, 09:00	#1
Ched I really should get out more....... MG ZT V8, MGZT 135 derv ,MG TF 135 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Romsey Posts: 2,293 Thanks: 553 Thanked 573 Times in 385 Posts	Coolant leak. After suffering from a coolant leak these last couple of weeks I bought a pair of img's and did the work yesterday as the weather was nice, When I removed the front manifold it was then obvious this was the source of the leak as well as there being water on the valves of one cylinder. The rear manifold appeared to be intact ( just ) but it was changed as well. The front gasket is the top one in the pics. Hopefully thats that sorted, just need to keep a close eye on it for a few days.

9th December 2012, 09:07	#2
maxtherotti Gets stuck in mg zt-t 190 se, mg zs 180 saloon Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bridport Posts: 798 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	well done its not a great job to do i have got a set to do on mine as i suspect mine is leaking in the same place (got a thermostat to throw in at the same time while im there) Rob __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] 2004 mg ztt 190+ se one of only 19 in xpg!!! 2001 mg zs 180 saloon

9th December 2012, 09:10	#3
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,372 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	Hi David, Well done! I've just reviewed your earlier thread about the sustained water loss but with virtually no other symptoms apart from a trace of 'mayonnaise' in the expansion tank. Thanks for sharing with us what the fault actually was. I wonder why this happens to some cars and not others. Were there any signs that the inlet manifold had been removed before? I've always taken the precaution of tightening all the bolts to the recommended torque. Simon. __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce.

9th December 2012, 09:48	#5
maxtherotti Gets stuck in mg zt-t 190 se, mg zs 180 saloon Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bridport Posts: 798 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	yep allmost the same miles as mine (85k) mine does exactly the same (small coolant loss/mayo in filler cap/very light staining in the valley but mine also has a very slight misfire for a few seconds when starting from hot as i suspect its leaking from the inlet gasket and going into the cylinder) will be changing mine in the new year when i get 5 mins off work lol Rob __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] 2004 mg ztt 190+ se one of only 19 in xpg!!! 2001 mg zs 180 saloon

9th December 2012, 15:33	#7
Simon.h This is my second home Previously owned- MG ZT V6 160 Y plate Lpg, MG ZT 190 2003 In Rare Celestial Factory Ordered Lpg MG Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Calne Posts: 4,531 Thanks: 8 Thanked 116 Times in 108 Posts	Is this because of a 50% OAT mix eating the gaskets again! __________________ Previously owned- MG ZT V6 160 Y plate Lpg, MG ZT 190 2003 In Rare Celestial Factory Ordered Lpg MG ZT 190 2004 lpg

9th December 2012, 09:28	#4
Ched I really should get out more....... MG ZT V8, MGZT 135 derv ,MG TF 135 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Romsey Posts: 2,293 Thanks: 553 Thanked 573 Times in 385 Posts	Cheers Rob, the worst part I found was removing the manifold, you really need hardwood or a hard plastic for the wedges. Simon, this engine hasnt been apart from the day it left the factory,I found it awkward trying do undo and tighten the inner alloy manifold bolts on the front bank, none of which appeared to be tight anyway, the rest of it came apart fairly easily. The car has just turned 80000 miles and I suspect the use of oat coolant the reason the very flimsy rubber has given way. The mayo was actually in the oil filler cap which is why I decided to change these gaskets. I replaced with genuine MG/Rover gaskets but I'd like to know if the Landrover version has more meat on them so to speak.

9th December 2012, 16:59	#8
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,753 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	It will if you don't service the cooling system. The reasons why OAT disintegrates polymers is well known and is basically a consequence of frequent overheating. There's a recent thread on this very topic. TC

9th December 2012, 17:14	#9
Ched I really should get out more....... MG ZT V8, MGZT 135 derv ,MG TF 135 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Romsey Posts: 2,293 Thanks: 553 Thanked 573 Times in 385 Posts	It does'nt apply in this case TC,up until a couple of weeks ago the coolant level didnt alter and there was never any overheating as the fans work as intended. I wonder if it could be a combination of oat and the manifold bolts working themselves loose albeit only slightly over time, unless they were never torqued correctly at the build stage.

9th December 2012, 18:37	#10
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,753 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	Possibly. 'Overheating' includes microscopic places where coolant can get way above normal temperature. A slack bolt will allow OAT to bleed into areas of zero flow, so it simply gets hotter and hotter till it breaks down with the glycol into things that soften polymers (a plasticiser). Once the vicious circle is started it gets worse as the leak increases due to seal collapse. TC