Baffling coolant leak - any suggestions?
02-23-2022, 07:32 PM
#31
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Update and conclusion on this.
The answer turned out to be a failed water pump. The impeller came loose, and when the temperature raised enough (after about 5 - 10 minutes driving) the radiator cap would open and release coolant through the overflow line. This released the coolant just in front and below the firewall, with the result that the engine stayed dry, and the underside of the car getting covered in coolant.
- Lesson learned: When stripping the engine chasing a over heating issue, remove the water pump before removing the heads. -
The answer turned out to be a failed water pump. The impeller came loose, and when the temperature raised enough (after about 5 - 10 minutes driving) the radiator cap would open and release coolant through the overflow line. This released the coolant just in front and below the firewall, with the result that the engine stayed dry, and the underside of the car getting covered in coolant.
- Lesson learned: When stripping the engine chasing a over heating issue, remove the water pump before removing the heads. -
02-24-2022, 01:57 PM
#32
Rennlist Member
02-24-2022, 03:51 PM
#33
Wait, now I'm confused... did you learn the lesson "the hard way"? Meaning you removed the heads too?
Cheers
Cheers
02-24-2022, 07:13 PM
#34
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Still, while my gaskets disintegrated when I removed the heads, the heads had minimal corrosion. So not a totally wasted exercise
02-24-2022, 07:57 PM
#35
Is it back together already? Did you take photos? One of the great resources of this group is photo documentation; it would be interesting to see how much corrosion you encountered, just as a data point. Lots of owner-wrenchers here seem to have posted photos of the heads off the cars.
Not a wasted exercise indeed; it almost seems like prudent maintenance with these cars.
Cheers
Not a wasted exercise indeed; it almost seems like prudent maintenance with these cars.
Cheers
02-25-2022, 12:19 AM
#36
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Is it back together already? Did you take photos? One of the great resources of this group is photo documentation; it would be interesting to see how much corrosion you encountered, just as a data point. Lots of owner-wrenchers here seem to have posted photos of the heads off the cars.
Not a wasted exercise indeed; it almost seems like prudent maintenance with these cars.
Cheers
Not a wasted exercise indeed; it almost seems like prudent maintenance with these cars.
Cheers
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RennHarry (02-25-2022)
02-25-2022, 03:47 AM
#37
Rennlist Member
Was there any play in the water pump bearing?
Be assured your efforts were not wasted- the problem with this type of corrosion issue is the unpredictability of initiation- however once it starts and those worm holes form, the rate of corrosion can and often does take off exponentially- this in part is why it is prudent to remove all traces of the corrosion. By doing what you have done I would think that you have just secured yourself at least another 20 years of trouble free service life with respect to the head joint sealing potential and that has to be worth the effort.
Unfortunately I could not read much into your photos as they were not very clear.
Be assured your efforts were not wasted- the problem with this type of corrosion issue is the unpredictability of initiation- however once it starts and those worm holes form, the rate of corrosion can and often does take off exponentially- this in part is why it is prudent to remove all traces of the corrosion. By doing what you have done I would think that you have just secured yourself at least another 20 years of trouble free service life with respect to the head joint sealing potential and that has to be worth the effort.
Unfortunately I could not read much into your photos as they were not very clear.