Water loss, possible causes?

The manifold gasket could be the problem. You need to get a pressure test done asap. Don't risk doing these 200 mile trips until you have got it fixed.

Edd

Mr Edd said:

The manifold gasket could be the problem. You need to get a pressure test done asap. Don't risk doing these 200 mile trips until you have got it fixed.

Edd

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Is that the inlet manifold? Screwed if I can't use the car, leaving shortly for Sheffield, 240 miles away! Cheers, Paul.

The inlet manifold gasket is a good place to start.Mine would only show signs of leakage when the engine cooled down.

Also the plastic T piece may have gone out of shape and allow water out round the jubalee clips.It is a known weak point and it is better to replace this with a Stainless steel Gerry T.

Bob.

As said, it could be a small leak with a cold engine that seals itself as soon as the engine warms up and things expand. Probably why it only leaks once no matter how long the trip. You HAVE to find it though and cure it. It's like a ticking bomb just waiting to go off.


:hgf::hgf::hgf::crying::crying::crying:

Check the inlet manifold gasket as already suggested. With the engine cool run your finger along the bottom of the inlet manifold where it joins to the head. Wet finger, it's leaking. Also, T-Piece as suggested, also the plastic elbow that joins the top hose to the radiator, and the waterpump can also give problems.

I would get the car jacked up and secure and remove the engine under tray to see if there are any traces of leaks underneath, you can then trace it back to where it's coming from.

Coolant leaves a white sort of stain when it dries out, look for signs of that.

Driving this car with a coolant leak will almost certainly result in HGF!!!

Thanks for the advice guys. Just had a new water pump 2 months back so I'm pretty sure it's not that. I read somewhere about the S/S Ts but a search didn't get me anywhere. Am I right in thinking someone on here makes them to order, if so can you give me a link or a name? It's absolutely persisting down here at the moment so very little chance of spotting the leak, although I have given the whole engine a good look over on 3 or 4 occasions since I first noticed the problem and can't see any tell-tales, I'll keep looking! Cheers again, Paul

Pauliexjr said:

Thanks for the advice guys. Just had a new water pump 2 months back so I'm pretty sure it's not that. I read somewhere about the S/S Ts but a search didn't get me anywhere. Am I right in thinking someone on here makes them to order, if so can you give me a link or a name? It's absolutely persisting down here at the moment so very little chance of spotting the leak, although I have given the whole engine a good look over on 3 or 4 occasions since I first noticed the problem and can't see any tell-tales, I'll keep looking! Cheers again, Paul

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There's a bit more info on the Gerry T here.

If the inlet manifold gasket is leaking internally it will not show any evidence on the outside. The only real way to check is to replace the gasket.

If the coolant loss is due to the head gasket, it will either show up in the oil or it will be running down the block, probably from under the exhaust manifold area.