strange coolant leak

[16v_paddy]

Only 1 way to rule it out, remove & refit the stat housing with some sealant but tbh, if it is that leaking the water would be collecting in all the little pockets on the gearbox

[172lover]

Mmmmmmm Thats true about the pockets filling up on the gearbox...
(It's not btw)

I did a compression test today
195-190-190-195.
(draper kit. Removed all spark plugs first and cranked it 10 secs on each cylinder)

Going by the numbers my old man said it isn't the gasket...
But it could be that it's just so far away from the bores no?

Gonna rip the colant pipes off tomorrow and I might be able to see better:(

[16v_paddy]

Can still easily be the gasket, just because it's not buggered between the bores doesn't mean it aint shagged, just look at the pic I posted, you can see where the gasket also seals oil & waterways.
Where the water is collecting, you can see from my pic that there's a waterway close by

[172lover]

The only place I can see coolant is that little hole and my sump.I can't see it any other place tbh.not even dripping down.


I'll hopefully see better tomorrow with the pipework and strut brace out of the way.


The car isn't overheating so that's a good sign the block/head ain't damaged is it?
When driving it says about 1/4 on the temp gauge.
When parked up after driving she will rise after a couple of minutes.

[Wobba]

Finding splits in the hoses can be hard sometimes.

I'd have the thermo housing off.

Check it here:



That pipe there ripped off the housing completely as it was so badly corroded from the inside. Was a hard leak to find.

Some leaks may not be visible until the coolant is hot...press the pipes a load and wear gloves as it be hot :D

Check coolant bottle for wetness on the bottom too, it can spray the back of the engine.

May be HG though, but not leaking into bores.

Pic of my first blown HG at that corner where yours is leaking:

[exploding_penguin]

this is the exact place my h/g went, i put some rad weld in the coolant to stop the leak, but i wouldnt recommend as a fix, just a temp solution

[172lover]

Just going at this today as she passed the NCT/mot on monday so I've a year of that now.
Anyway ripped off the thermo....
Green corrosion(??) coming out of the two sensors and around the thermo.

In where the pipe fits had all bits of tough rust



The thermmostat.
Where my fingers are the rubber has holes in it :(

Would it be possible that the coolant is leaking from the thermo rubber and going along the head?

I've a new thermo stat(89*C) here and a new rubber so I'm going to try that and hope for the best
Hopefully it will stop raining shortly...