Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

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droodle
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Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by droodle » Sun Sep 26, 2010 3:58 pm

Been losing a lot of coolant recently and last time i topped up i could almost instantly see the water dripping on the floor .. this pic is from under the engine block .. you can see two spots any ideas where the water could be coming from ?

thanks.

pic here ..

http://yfrog.com/8bbongoj
francophile1947
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by francophile1947 » Sun Sep 26, 2010 5:17 pm

If it's from the front of the engine, it's probably the water pump - but thoroughly check the hoses first, as they are cheaper :lol:
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gmaczbongo
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by gmaczbongo » Sun Sep 26, 2010 7:15 pm

It must be really bad if it is leaking without being under pressure.
Get torch and pin point the leak.
Water pump is prime suspect
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wormey
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by wormey » Sun Sep 26, 2010 8:34 pm

With these two, water pump.
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droodle
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by droodle » Sun Sep 26, 2010 9:18 pm

thanks folks where does the water pump live ? cos the leak seems a little far back under the driver not at the front. anyone got a picture ?
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Northern Bongolow
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by Northern Bongolow » Sun Sep 26, 2010 9:45 pm

not saying its the water pump but that is located inline with the drivers knees,but in the centre of the motor,you will have to remove the under tray first really,as the leak could be puddling in this,then running out anyware.
them main thing is dont run it AT ALL until its fixed.
droodle
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by droodle » Sun Sep 26, 2010 9:55 pm

Northern Bongolow wrote:not saying its the water pump but that is located inline with the drivers knees,but in the centre of the motor,you will have to remove the under tray first really,as the leak could be puddling in this,then running out anyware.
them main thing is dont run it AT ALL until its fixed.
Um ok just topped up the water and drove it 80 miles home [-X
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Northern Bongolow
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by Northern Bongolow » Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:00 pm

the problem is when the motor cools,it sucks in air,and with a large loss/leak like you have it will/may be lots.the air goes to the highest point and sits there till next time its started.that point is the head.please be carefull.
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by lpgimports » Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:45 am

Hi

Can't reiterate enough the advice of others, DO NOT DRIVE IT until you have fixed the problem and bled it again correctly.

In line with the drivers feet area, sounds like either the top hose engine side or the radiator end of the top hose leaking at the joint with the metal pipe or pin holed and running back onto the metal pipe and dripping off, or the metal pipe on the drivers side could be fractured arround its mounting bracket or the drain tube on the metal pipe could be badly brazed on or the rubber blank on the drain tube could be perished. Either way you really need the under tray off and inspect, a pressure testing kit is really required to pump it up to just below rad cap opening pressure and this will make any pin hole leaks open up and noticably leak.

We have replaced a number of these metal pipes before for cracking at the brackets or the brazing being rubbish.

Regards

Paul
droodle
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by droodle » Thu Sep 30, 2010 2:55 pm

well it was my water pump .. that has been replaced and another leak was found and fixed by tightening up the seal, cooland refilled and antifreezed up hopefully sorted for the winter.

thanks for all the advise.
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haydn callow
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by haydn callow » Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:17 pm

But ...!! was it bled properly ???
http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk
Developer of the Mazda Bongo Coolant loss Alarm
Also BMW Clocks
droodle
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by droodle » Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:28 pm

yes
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haydn callow
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Re: Losing coolant - can you tell where the leak is ?

Post by haydn callow » Thu Sep 30, 2010 5:09 pm

Should be good then......result !!
http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk
Developer of the Mazda Bongo Coolant loss Alarm
Also BMW Clocks
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