Leaking Coolant From Top?

[Bovien 6]

Can this be an externally leaking head gasket, or where would your guess be that the coolant is coming from? It is very hard to see for sure without removing the manifold to clean the area thoroughly. I see no hoses, so without knowledge on exactly where coolant is running in the block/head, its a hard guess.

See pic IMG_0575.

 

On a second note, my gearbox is leaking as well. I'm guessing the fix is to remove the end plate. Is this an issue, or is it just drain, remove, re-gasket (guessing I need to do a gasket myself), attach, fill up again? Or is there more to it?

See pic IMG_0577.jpg

 

Thanks!!

 

[DamirGTI 342]

First pic :

 

It's leaking trough the head bolt holes .. seen this before , try to torque up the head bolts by 10-15Nm (just undo a little bit first by 1/8 of a turn each bolt and then torque up .. using spiral bolt sequence for torquing) and see if it stops leaking afterwards ...

but this is quite a bit of leakage dunno if it will work , suppose the block/head base distorted or theres lack of head gasket sealing around head bolts .

 

EDIT : now looking again , could be inlet manifold gasket as well .. theres two small coolant holes , one on the each end of the head just below the inlet ports which covers/seals the inlet manifold gasket

 

Second pic :

 

It's just the gearbox oil fill plug leaking , undo (the big one , think it's a 19mm) and replace the copper washer .

 

D

Edited September 29, 2015 by DamirGTI

[Bovien 6]

Thanks, I was thinking something like the head bolts, but I dont have the T55 torx (right?) available. I'll pick up some tomorrow and give it a try.

But I'm also thinking you might be right regarding the inlet manifold. I have see a bit of fluid beneath the manifold itself, at the tip of he round "shape" on the underside. So I would need two new gaskets? I'm guessing it is pretty straight forward to loosen the manifold, except for a few hoses and the oil stud being in the way? An I would need to drain the coolant first. Wasn't aware that cloolant flowed through the manifold, but I was wondering that, as I see gasket in there

 

I'm more hesitant about the gearbox though. I have tried tightening the main drain plug, but I will try again for sure!

[Lukespeed 10]

I had this a couple of months ago, water was tracking along the head gasket and down the block making it look like head gasket had gone. Got as far as taking inlet manifold off and found the inlet manifold gasket had failed. New gasket and plenty of instant gasket just to make sure.. No more leaks for me!

[Bovien 6]

Nice. How was the manifold to remove? Easy peasy or broken bolts and hoses in the way?

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

It is easy to move as it is just on the studs. I would start with changing the inlet gaskets first, clean up and then go from there. It might be a good time to consider swapping the starter motor too if you have been having the usual click-click no-start 205 symptoms as it is easy to get to whilst the inlet is off.

 

You can see the little water way holes here just underneath and inbetween the inlet ports. They don't go anywhere on an injection and I think they are just used for carb heating on other XU engines.

They are masked by a pipe on the left and a plug on the right on this photo, but you get the idea!

[Bovien 6]

Thanks Heny. Great info. I'll double check with Haynes as well

 

I have no starter issues, except that 50% of the times it needs two turns on ignition to catch, but the starter turns every time. I'm not sure where my issue is with it not catching on the first turnover, but I've not been bothered and it has been constant for 2 years or so...

[Lukespeed 10]

Yep it's easy peasy to do, if you've never had it off before take a photo to remember where pipes etc go, the injector wires have no specific injector to go to just so long as cables reach, and if you don't know there is a pipe that connects to the underside of the manifold

[Bovien 6]

Great! Looking forward to receiving the gasket then.

I've got a lift at home, so that should help the proceedings of getting to the underside hose