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Coolant [or lack of it] issue. Help!

M

MarlowCrew

PCGB Member
Member
When I got to work today I noticed a nice trail left where I'd driven and I puddle were ever I stopped. This appears to be due to a leak in the in the cooling system (the other clues being a flashing red light on the temperature gauge and the message saying top up coolant). Water temperature gauge remained firmly at 80c, but I think the oil temperature did look-up slightly from its normal 90-95c.

Tonight I got my son to pour water in to the coolant filler while I looked under the car to see where it was coming out. [I'm not good on car anatomy] leak seem to be on a joint between a [approximately] 25mm diameter pipe going from into the bottom of the block at the end of the engine with the belts (left-hand as you look from the rear of the car); I'm guessing where the pipe attaches to the water pump; in truth I have no real idea where the water pump is. The pipe doesn't look obviously punctured or perished.

The help and advice I'm hoping someone can provide: -

Does this sound like something with a top-up and top-up(s) alone the way I could drive the car to either Porsche at Reading (around 25 miles), RSJ in Slough (around 14 miles) or Hillcrest in Henley-on-Thames (I don't know their actual address, but they are likely to be the closest)?

Would anyone hazard a guess as to the actual problem?

Car doesn't have a warranty on it, so does an independent like Hillcrest or RSJ sound like a reasonable option (public transport to come home is better from their locations than the far side or Reading)?

Any other advice and comments welcomed.
 
Hi,
Not knowing how fast it's leaking (and whether it's getting progressively worse) this is difficult to say, but assuming it's just a drip you'd probably be OK to get get to Hillcrest. Best to ring them up for advice before you set off.

Also try getting a hose repair bandage from a motor accessory shop, just as a temporary fix to help get you there.

I wouldn't try driving from Marlow to OPC Reading or RSJ, not so much because of the distance but more the risk of getting stuck in traffic and overheating the engine, whereas Marlow to Nettlebed should be a nice clear run.

If Hillcrest say it's OK, top the expansion tank right up with water, take a 5-litre bottle with you so you can stop a few times on the way to top it up again, drive very gently (but be careful not to lug the engine from low revs), and keep a close eye on the oil temperature.

Good luck!
 
I had something similar in that I noticed after getting home a puddle of coolant on the drive (in my case the water pump failed). I'd driven about 30 miles but don't know when it had happened.

I called my local indy and luckily for me one of their engineers lives in the next village. He came and had a look. After pouring water in, it was clear that the pump failure had caused the hose to split and the car wasn't able to hold water. He advised that it probably wasn't a good plan to drive it the 10 miles to the garage - so it got taken on a lorry.

After the event, I talked to the garage and my recollection of that conversation was really that actually it probably would have been ok to drive it because at "normal" speeds for short periods the engine is quite capable of staying cool with the air flow. That's why you didn't see the water temperature rise (as I expected too). However, they would not have advised doing that.

Obviously that's a case of the water pump failing and not the same as you have. I'd give Hillcrest a call and see what they say (and, if you can, take a few pictures you can email to them).

Good luck, wth that all you will need is a new hose etc!
 
[FONT=arial"][FONT=arial"]Thank you everyone for the advice and comments. Car is now with Simon at Hillcrest.

Simon took one look and ruled out a split expansion tank, so the next most likely cause split pipe or failed water pump.[FONT=verdana,geneva"]
[FONT=verdana,geneva"]
 
Reunited with the car, horay!

Water pump replaced. Simon had the old one on the bench and it was quite obvious that the bearing was completely shot, coolant leak was directly from the pump.

For anyone needing assistance in the Henley-on-Thames area Hillcrests web linked is http://www.hillcrestspecialistcars.com/
 
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