Losing coolant, change core plugs as precaution?

[iani]

I'm losing coolant from somewhere in the 'V', it seems to be happening when the car cools down after a run and the amount is fairly significant, perhaps 1/2 pint at worst, sometimes nothing. I'm going to replace the water pump in case it's coming from there, I will reseal the inlet manifold at the same time. I was wondering if I should replace the core plugs whilst I have the access? there is some surface corrosion evident on one of them. I have done a leak test via the header tank and don't see any trace of gas so I"m hoping I don't have H/G trouble.

Ian

[V Mad]

I would get a torch and look in the vee to see if it is coming out of the water pump vent. It may also be coming from the inlet manifold or a hose.

[iani]

I have tried checking with a torch Chris, the problem is it seems to leak when the engine is cooling down so short of watching for a long time this just doesn't work. I think I'm just going to have to address the usual culprits and hope I catch the right one in the process.

[72BLUE]

look in the vee to see if it is coming out of the water pump vent

I also have water in the vee, so need to investigate. If water is coming out of the water pump vent, what does this signify?

Cheers
Keith.

[wilf]

Failing water pump seal.

Water in the V really only comes from one of three places, as V mad said, - pump seal, manifold gaskets, or hoses.

I suppose you could add pump cover and thermostat cover gaskets to that list, but they are far less common than the main three.

I have found that fitting a (Wards) header tank induces a small leak during the cooling down phase (because of the added head I suspect) but releasing the pressure via the header tank cap upon shutdown stops it completely.

[Arbman Al]

I have tried checking with a torch Chris, the problem is it seems to leak when the engine is cooling down so short of watching for a long time this just doesn't work. I think I'm just going to have to address the usual culprits and hope I catch the right one in the process.

Hi Ian,

You could try drying it off and dusting with talcolm powder, then looking for the streaks to see where it is coming from?
I would n't pull the water pump unless you know for sure this is it.

Al.

[iani]

I have the Wards header tank fitted, I'll give the pressure reduction idea a try, thanks Wilf. My pump was a recon fitted by Wards 4 years/15k ago, shouldn't be failing so soon I'd have thought. All the hoses were replaced at the same time, I am going to source silicone hoses for the remainder, the manufacturer will sell me a set, less the ones I don't need as I have the header hoses, just waiting for a price.

[flying farmer]

The only disadvantage of a header tank is that it shows up water pump leaks, but that is far better than the standard system which sucks in air then blows out the water.
By the sound of it the water pump is the most likely suspect, everything else will leak under pressure.

I would go with the pressure release idea as the simplest and easiest and see what develops.

When I rebuilt the water pump on my Stag engined estate a few years ago, I can't have made a very good job of skimming the impeller and it leaked like a seive. I resorted to driving around with the pressure cap on the header tank undone for the first few hundred miles ( at least you can do that with a header tank). The leak cured itself in the end but took nearly 2000 miles to bed itself in.

Guess why I like external water pumps!

Neil

[iani]

I have an external kit ready to fit Neil but as we now know that you need to modify the rad if you have a header fitted I don't want the hassle of having my ali rad modded. I'll sell the external pump kit and that will more than fund the recon of an original pump & set of silicone hoses.

[KOY 23]

Ian.

Sorry but I would do the opposite, as I believe the advantages of a low mounted external pump are far greater than those of a header tank.

John

[V Mad]

I think that during the winter period, when cars dont get used often, the impeller face gets corroded casisng a slight leak. But losing as much a 1/2pt maybe suggests something more than that. If you remove the inlet manifold you might see a bad gasket joint? If not, and all hoses are good then by elimination its likely to be the pump. If you see a corroded edge around a core plug it would be best to replace it to be sure.

[mark mk1]

waterless coolent

i been looking at waterless coolant i have have the triumph engine i know its not cheap but could it save me money in the long run???
Anyone have any ideas

[Stagdad]

i been looking at waterless coolant i have have the triumph engine i know its not cheap but could it save me money in the long run???
Anyone have any ideas

Only if you can stop it leaking,otherwise its throwing money in the "V".Was a thread a while back talking about this subject.
Cheers Steve.