anti freeze on the garage floor

[flying farmer]

Thanks for the advice, I will short circuit the heater first, Ian thanks for the offer but i can pressurise the system via my compressor and a hose fitted to the overflow pipe to the rad, although it doesn`t appear to lose much pressure as the cap always hisses as I remove it from the header tank, i will keep you informed!
Derek

If your cap hisses on a cold engine then I am afraid it is the first symptom of head gasket failure, the cooling system is pressurising with combustion gasses, and the constant pressure will exacerbate any leaks. If you have a header tank fitted it will allow the engine to keep running with a pressurising cooling system, whereas the existing expansion bottle set up will simply blow out all the water and let the engine brew up.

As mentioned previously, check the head gasket for leaks between the head and block.

If your head studs haven't been retorqued for a while now is a good time to try it as the head gaskets may have compressed and prompt attention may save the situation before the gasket fails. Slacken each nut/stud half a flat before retorqueing

Neil

[Motorsport Micky]

Agree with Neil, if you do retorque the head drain the system before slackening off the head gasket fixings and retorqueing.

Micky

[blue 464]

Neil, thanks for the good news! the head was re-torqued last summer so should be ok, there is no sign of seepage between the heads and the block, i have made some progress, for 2 days there has been no water on the floor, however tissue in the v showed slight dampness on the o/s rear corner, i have nipped up the inlet manifold bolts by about half a turn. we will see what happens now

Derek

[bunny]

Back to the first post then lol

[blue 464]

Right, getting desparate now, with the carbs and coil removed to improve the view, I have covered the top of the block, the head/block joints, the inlet manifold connections and hose connections with talcum powder, the system is cold and under full pressure from the compressor until the header tank cap blew, its new so the system should be at 22psi(volvo cap), I am hopeing for a trail of damp powder to show the leak,I willkeep you informed!

secondly in view of neils comments about head gaskets is there anybody within striking distance of east kent with one of those tester things to check for combustion products in the cooling water?

Derek

[bunny]

Hi
Maybe the leak is more noticeable when the engine is warm
vince

[milothedog]

Right, getting desparate now, with the carbs and coil removed to improve the view, I have covered the top of the block, the head/block joints, the inlet manifold connections and hose connections with talcum powder, the system is cold and under full pressure from the compressor until the header tank cap blew, its new so the system should be at 22psi(volvo cap), I am hopeing for a trail of damp powder to show the leak,I willkeep you informed!

secondly in view of neils comments about head gaskets is there anybody within striking distance of east kent with one of those tester things to check for combustion products in the cooling water?

Derek

Derek, if your stuck give me a shout. I can put mine in the post to you. I did it before for someone and it survived.

Ian.

Or if you want it can be collected from South London Or as Martin has suggested before get your local MOT station to put their C/O tester in your header tank.

[72BLUE]

Just a thought........ what is your water to antifreeze ratio? The more antifreeze you have, the greater the chance of coolant leaks. I believe a ratio of 2/3 water to 1/3 antifreeze should be plenty for the Stag.

Cheers
Keith.

[blue 464]

ian thanks for the offer, got abusy week this week due to someone going into hospital, so this will have to wait abit, i will sound out my local friendly MOT man about checking the header tank, Kieth, the antifreeze is new and is approx 2/3 1/3 so should be ok, Vince, the leak is only visible when cold as the engine heat evaporates the leak before it reaches the floor.

Thanks again for all the replies and advice, i willkeep you updated
Derek

[blue 464]

Hi all, thanks again for your input and suggestions, 72 hours of full pressure on the system has finally allowed me to trace the trail of wet talcum powder to the pump breather hole. I have removed all the talc and dried everything, released the pressure and the V has stayed dry for 24hrs, so it only leaks under pressure, the next step is to talk to my MOT man about checking the header tank for combustion products, depending on the outcome, I may leave the pump repair until the winter and just monitor it for now, I am tempted to replace the pump with an alternative, i have seen the electric pump kits but they are pricey, any advice on which way to go would be appreciated

Derek