Odd temp behaviour

[Fat Albert]

Have had an issue of fluid dripping onto the exhaust and causing smoke recently, I have seen water dripping from the pipe that runs alongside the cam cover, where the rubber bit joins the metal pipe, but the smoke looks/smells more oily.
I have noticed that the heater hasn't been working well for the past couple of mornings, which aroused my suspicions around the cooling system.
Then this morning the car warmed up very quickly (ie the temp gauge not the heater), then when sat in traffic the temp gauge was going right up, but dropping immediately that I started moving The car was not smoking at all in traffic which is unusual! When I got to the station the expansion tank looked empty and there was water dripping out of the pipe by the exhaust at a fair rate with some of the smoke appearing... My thoughts are that either: The smoke is from the water dripping out of the pipe and it has got worse and the cooling system is a little low The smoke is from a head gasket oil leak that has decided to get worse and leak into the cooling system I hope that it is the first, my plan is to drive to the nearest garage tonight and fill up with water, go to Halfords and buy some new jubilee clips. If the car behaves normally tonight, I will use it tomorrow and just keep the water topped up, if not tonight (or on Saturday if it does) take that pipe completely off, clean the metal part that it fits over and apply some PTFE tape and then re-fit using the best sized jubilee clip. If the pipe looks perished I will order a new one (looking up the part no. On my CD this time!) If this cures the smoke issue then I will be very happy and annoyed at the same time (happy not to have to change the head gasket, and annoyed that I spent £500 having the cam cover gasket replaced!)

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Just to be aware That pipe does comrade quite readily,
Especially under the clips for some reason, and try to bleed it well when you top it up
Mike

 

[Kevin Welch]

Just a thought, PTFE tape is very slippery and is really designed to be used on metal/plastic threads. If used on a pipe with an interference fit, even if secured with a jubilee clip, internal water pressure might cause the rubber pipe to slip off the metal pipe. Could the smoke be caused by the anti-freeze in the water being burnt off?

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Agree with Kevin, dont use PTFE on that type of joint , it will slip!
Missed that on the OP!
New rubber and a good hose clip will seal and grip, even on a rusted surface on the pipe.
Mike

 

[Fat Albert]

Thanks for the advice guys! Good pickup on the PTFE tape, will not use it!

I'll let you know how I get on...

 

[Fat Albert]

was a bit tense getting to Halfords and the Garage as there was a big queue to get out of the station car park and then every traffic light was red on the way!
Then when I started up at Halfords the Oil light came on!

I filled it with water (and topped the oil up) and re-started it and the temp immediately came down, so I ran it for a bit and topped up again, and then headed home.
The temp stayed stable, even when I gave it the beans off a roundabout.

This morning everything was normal and even the heater worked!

I think that I have been remiss in my fluid checking as we have a new puppy and my weekends have been very busy, so I think it has gone 3 weeks without a check[&:]

I have bought a wide range of Jubilee clips and will attempt a fix tomorrow, are these pipes dealer only supply if I need a new one?

 

[Fat Albert]

Well, good news and bad news!
Good news is that the water leak turned out to be a split hose, so I just chopped the end off and re-fitted it, 10 mins work and all done.

The bad news is that the Oil burning is a completely different issue and it seems to be coming from the cam cover gasket again, although in reality it is dripping off the bracket that holds the pipe that I fixed, so i assume it is wicking up the alan bolt that holds that bracket somehow? Where else could the oil come from?

It only leaks under pressure, so nothing when it is not running and then when the oil is fully warmed and the pressure drops to 2-3 at idle it no longer leaks. It is worst as the engine is warming and the pressure at idle is still around 4