Water Leak Advice

Redmaestro · 19th June 2018, 17:42

Hi All,

Just after some advise about a water leak I discovered after work this evening. There seems to a small damp patch under the plastic pipe between the thermostat and the engine inlet/outlet ......whichever it is (on the left side of the V on a KV6 engine). But when you look under the engine, you can clearly see a drip....drip....drip coming off the oil sump.

I don't think I'm loosing much from that plastic pipe, but could it be coming from somewhere else?

Thanks in advance

trikey · 19th June 2018, 19:51

Replace all the plastic components while you are in there, itll be one of them that has fractured.

bl52krz · 19th June 2018, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikey

Replace all the plastic components while you are in there, itll be one of them that has fractured.

As above. Just do it.

SD1too · 21st June 2018, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redmaestro

There seems to a small damp patch under the plastic pipe between the thermostat and the engine inlet/outlet ...

Hi Simon,

What you have is a common problem with the KV6. What has happened is that one or more of the 'O' rings on the plastic coolant parts has flattened and coolant is escaping into the 'V'. This gives the impression that the plastic parts have split but they actually have not.

You'll need just four new 'O' rings (CDU3858) and, after reassembly, ensure that the strange plastic clips on the straight pipe are pushed fully outwards to make close contact with the water pump and thermostat housings. Crucially this simple operation should prevent a recurrence and the drips on the sump will magically stop!

Simon

trikey · 21st June 2018, 12:25

Do not refit the old plastic pipes or stat, they will have suffered some form of degradation.

Without wanting to dig up all the history of the degradation suffered by the coolant issues, can you post pictures please of the pipes when you have removed them.

BigBen · 21st June 2018, 13:07

I'm with Trikey - even if it's only the 'o' rings I'd still replace the plastic pipes whist I was in there, it's a false economy not to.

If you can afford it, I would replace them with stainless steel ones, too.

Redmaestro · 7th July 2018, 11:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBen

I'm with Trikey - even if it's only the 'o' rings I'd still replace the plastic pipes whist I was in there, it's a false economy not to.....

Thanks for all of the replies. I think I will replace both all the pipes etc as knowing my luck, I'll probably end up damaging something when I strip it down.

Is there any kind up uprated o-rings or should I stick to the OEM ones that come with the kit (bought from dmgrs). Also, when refitting, are they a dry fit or should I use some kind of lubricant (is so, what do i use)? I replaced the thermostat & pipes about a year ago and I think I fit them dry. Perhaps thats why its leaking now????

SD1too · 7th July 2018, 18:31

Simon; my answers to your questions below.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redmaestro

Is there any kind up uprated o-rings ...

No; I have tried ‘O’ rings made from a different material but it made no difference. The solution lies with finding out what causes the ‘O’ rings to flatten. Currently I believe that it’s the incorrect positioning of the clips on the straight pipe.

Quote:

... or should I stick to the OEM ones that come with the kit (bought from dmgrs).

Yes.

Quote:

... are they a dry fit or should I use some kind of lubricant (is so, what do i use)?

A lubricant makes life much easier and lessens the risk of the plastic parts breaking during installation. Arctic recommends using red rubber grease (for braking systems) which seems like a sensible suggestion to me. You could even use a small smear of washing up liquid!

Quote:

I replaced the thermostat & pipes about a year ago and I think I fit them dry. Perhaps thats why its leaking now?

I doubt that. I’d guess that it’s leaking now because you weren’t aware of the need to push the plastic clips on the straight pipe outwards so that they are in close contact with the water pump and thermostat housings.

Simon

Redmaestro · 7th July 2018, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD1too

......... I’d guess that it’s leaking now because you weren’t aware of the need to push the plastic clips on the straight pipe outwards so that they are in close contact with the water pump and thermostat housings.....

Interesting! If I remember rightly, I put the straight pipe on, then the new plastic clip on. I put the clip on the groove and tightened it. Are you saying that the clip then slides across to the left up to the water pump instead of being left on the groove? I don't understand how that would stop a leak.

Also, what about the other clip on the other end?

kaiser · 8th July 2018, 04:45

"I replaced the thermostat & pipes about a year ago and I think I fit them dry. Perhaps thats why its leaking now????"

Dry fitting of O-rings is not a smart move,
--------------------- it is a dumb stuck.!

19th June 2018, 17:42	#1
Redmaestro Avid contributor Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 106 Thanks: 11 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Water Leak Advice Hi All, Just after some advise about a water leak I discovered after work this evening. There seems to a small damp patch under the plastic pipe between the thermostat and the engine inlet/outlet ......whichever it is (on the left side of the V on a KV6 engine). But when you look under the engine, you can clearly see a drip....drip....drip coming off the oil sump. I don't think I'm loosing much from that plastic pipe, but could it be coming from somewhere else? Thanks in advance

21st June 2018, 12:25	#5
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,772 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	Do not refit the old plastic pipes or stat, they will have suffered some form of degradation. Without wanting to dig up all the history of the degradation suffered by the coolant issues, can you post pictures please of the pipes when you have removed them. __________________ Lest we forget..

21st June 2018, 13:07	#6
BigBen Loves to post R75 V8 Tourer, CDTi Auto Tourer (both Connie SE), MG ZT-T 190+, MG TF 115 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Here be Dragons! Posts: 490 Thanks: 106 Thanked 160 Times in 101 Posts	I'm with Trikey - even if it's only the 'o' rings I'd still replace the plastic pipes whist I was in there, it's a false economy not to. If you can afford it, I would replace them with stainless steel ones, too. __________________ S. Wales meets cancelled until further notice [SIGPIC]https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/image.php?u=23989&type=sigpic&dateline=1467731033[/SIGPIC] Past cars:- BL: Discovery 3.1 & V8 2WD pick-up, Rover 800 Vitesse Turbo Coupe, 820 SLi 180 Fastback, 600ti, Montego 2.0EFi VDP, Ital 1.3 Estate Ford: Transit Cosworth V6, Granada 2.9 V6 Scorpio & 2.8 V6 GL Volvo: 480 Turbo & 1.7 ES, 240 GLE Porsche: 944 2.7 Lux Audi: 100 ESE 20v Peugeot: 405 1.9 GR Talbot: Alpine 1.6 Rapier S

8th July 2018, 04:45	#10
kaiser This is my second home 75 Tourer 2.5 Auto, 1.8T, 75V8ZT Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Johannesburg ZA Posts: 6,200 Thanks: 1 Thanked 859 Times in 613 Posts	"I replaced the thermostat & pipes about a year ago and I think I fit them dry. Perhaps thats why its leaking now????" Dry fitting of O-rings is not a smart move, --------------------- it is a dumb stuck.! __________________ Worth his V8 in gold

19th June 2018, 19:51	#2
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,772 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	Replace all the plastic components while you are in there, itll be one of them that has fractured.