Ok - hands on buzzers - a quick fire question before I get the ramps out.

[Stimpy]

So. Today I went about tidying the engine bay up. All those auxiliary wires like - fan, water pump, and other stuff. I used a cable tidy system and the bay looks very nice now. Almost 'empty' compared to before.

So the problem?

I took my better half to the hospital today for - well - personal stuff. The temp looked a little high. When I parked I had a shock! Water was dribbling down to the floor. From the bulk head area. Nooooo!!!! The car has not needed a drop since the last flush out.

So when we left hospital I had the weird task of using a 'Caution needles' bucket and running back and forth filling the system up again.

We set off - all was ok as the trip home was 60mph in the wind and no stopping (well nearly).

Got home - parked car - kept it running. I looked under the car. Nothing.
Nothing.
Left it there getting hot to the fan start and still - nothing.

So later we went out and I parked in a flat car park. The leak was back! Gaaagh!

Brought it home again - leak gone.

So I have worked out the riddle bit.

Because the car is angled downward on the drive water must be travelling down the VEE and evaporating of being blown back by the fan. So it's not a high pressure leak at least.

I have looked EVERYWHERE round the pipes. They are all dry and the VEE is wet.

So - before I get the bl&&dy ramps out does anyone have a 'gotcha' style clue as to what I've accidentally done?

Additional stuff -

fan works
electric pump works
expansion tank has water in it (albeit going down!)

I will be SO thankful if any of you can guess a 'typical' or 'stag thing' type answer so I don't have to add yet another job to my ever extending list!

Thanks in advance for ANY hints - whether big or small.

(You won't believe how disappointed I am - my newly waxed, reverse gear screen fixed, rear window replaced, leather cleaned 'beauty'!)

[martin]

Inlet manifold gaskets. Straightforward job. Martin.

[keeny]

As Martin has said,it would also be worth speaking to EJ Wards as I think they sell different thickness inlet manifold gaskets
Hope all goes well
Phil

[Stimpy]

I guess I might see the problem area better by taking the air filter off.

My concern is - why did it pick 'today' to do this - whilst clearing up the wires and cables? Bad luck I guess <gloom>

Funny thing is - it used to always be a bit damp in the V (but no drips) - then it stayed dry as a bone for ages and - as I said above - today this happened.

Thanks for the quick response though - I'll have a good look at it - the amount that comes out *must* be seeable at close range as it were.

Thanks again

[iani]

Inlet manifold gaskets. Straightforward job. Martin.

Ha, obvious you weren't with DaveB & I when we tried refitting my inlet manifold Martin, definitely wasn't straightforward at all.

[Stimpy]

Ha, obvious you weren't with DaveB & I when we tried refitting my inlet manifold Martin, definitely wasn't straightforward at all.

<moan> my confidence has just gone from 'bumpy road' to 'a ford <water way> which turns out to be deeper than it looked' !

Can't I just bang it with a rubber hammer? Perhaps with the rubber missing?

[Stagnant]

Same answer from me.
My vee had slight and occasional water on top. When parked uphill it ran back and off the end. When downhill or driving, nothing. Then it went POP! and sprayed everywhere. Pretty straightforward ( apart from a sheared bolt, drill and Helicoil )
Best of luck, Mark.

[Stagnant]

P.S. Thin gaskets and Dirko sealant from James Paddock did the job for me.
Mark

[Stimpy]

LD parts versus James paddock!

Just waiting for Rimmer brothers to jump in the boxing ring ;-)

[grumpy2]

Inlet manifold is straightforward if you have helicoils, drills, gaskets, dremels and gasket sealant.

And your inlet manifold isn't eroded!

Seriously isn't too bad but dont expect it to simply go back on with new gaskets, do a trial fit of all the bolts before applying any sealant and don't tighten anything until all the bolts are at least a few turns in

Gary

[Stimpy]

This may be a silly question (but you can't blame me for asking, incase it's not what's predicted).

If I take the air filter assembly off and run the car up until its at normal warm temps will I be able to see the coolant seeping out from anywhere? My logical guess is - yes - it must do in order to create a river in the V - but I'm asking just in case. Ta.

[Stimpy]

Inlet manifold is straightforward if you have helicoils, drills, gaskets, dremels and gasket sealant.

And your inlet manifold isn't eroded!

Seriously isn't too bad but dont expect it to simply go back on with new gaskets, do a trial fit of all the bolts before applying any sealant and don't tighten anything until all the bolts are at least a few turns in

Gary

Thanks for the tips about trial-ing - good idea. I seem to remember that I could physically turn the carbs in situ (only a tiny bit) - which always made me think either 1)"Hmmm" or 2) "British Leyland.

You're avatar shares my other masochistic passion. Real mini's. I have a 66 Elf and a 94 Rio which has been turned into a monster (the Elf stays original)

*Please* tell me that number plate has a UK flag above the GB and not that flippin' EU thing - especially relating to the behind the scenes stuff that killed the real mini!? Mine's got a UK quadrant and a Welsh dragon badge (I'm a happy Welsh/Brit rather than a winging nationalist! :-) )

Sorry about the politics there - its just my pet hate along with people who overtake on motorways and don't see the need to indicate (usually driven by cars that have a more "closer" relationship with a 'new mini' if you get my drift.... whoops, more alienating.... stop now....)

[Stimpy]

OFF TOPIC SIDE COMMENT

Can I just say ....

Thank each and every one of you who has the patience and understanding to take a 'numpty but getting better every day' person like me and giving me some of your time and experience for absolutely no gain (except a quite rightful pride in 'knowing').

I can't honestly think of where I could go elsewhere where people I don't know who don't really know me are happy to read my moans and actually give me the confidence and knowledge to do these things and try stuff out - which means no labour costs - so you're indirectly saving me money (which is helpful since I've been earnestly looking for work for 1.5 years).

I'm not pandering - I haven't been drinking* - I really mean what I say and I'll say it again - THANK YOU


(* had just under an ounce of heroin but I always find that a bit - well - 'moorish'*)

(* joke*)

(* not meant to offend)

[flying farmer]

I can't help but wonder wether the clue is in the first section of the post where you say it hasn't used a drop of water since the last flush out.

Was the cooling system full of sealant which was stopping the leak?

If so a bottle of K seal may keep things going for a while yet!

Neil

[milothedog]

Thanks for the tips about trial-ing - good idea. I seem to remember that I could physically turn the carbs in situ (only a tiny bit) - which always made me think either 1)"Hmmm" or 2) "British Leyland.

You're avatar shares my other masochistic passion. Real mini's. I have a 66 Elf and a 94 Rio which has been turned into a monster (the Elf stays original)

*Please* tell me that number plate has a UK flag above the GB and not that flippin' EU thing - especially relating to the behind the scenes stuff that killed the real mini!? Mine's got a UK quadrant and a Welsh dragon badge (I'm a happy Welsh/Brit rather than a winging nationalist! :-) )

Sorry about the politics there - its just my pet hate along with people who overtake on motorways and don't see the need to indicate (usually driven by cars that have a more "closer" relationship with a 'new mini' if you get my drift.... whoops, more alienating.... stop now....)

How about this one Steve.

This is for sale locally, it started off at nearly 20K http://www.evansautos.co.uk/used-car...ni-saloon-2514

Ian