Source of a coolant leak

[Keithy P38]

Hey everyone!

Just in the final stages of my Cape York trip prep now. Have done all the oils, spark plugs etc, and after replacing a few coolant hoses that were getting old, I noticed this morning a few drips of fresh coolant on my starter motor.

I had a look around and there are zero leaks from the cooling system. It appears to be coming from around the engine mount area. I notice there are two random bolts going into the block in that general area, are either of those bolts like a block drain bolt or anything?

Otherwise I think it may be a welch plug (in the area of drippage also). I'd like to think it was just a bolt that needs nipping up, I'd hate to have to drain the coolant again and replace a welch plug!

Ideas?

Cheers
Keithy

[Keithy P38]

I should mention, I noticed the drips a month ago and put it down to a dribbly coolant hose (hence why it has now been replaced).

I degreased the engine after all the work I did the other day too!

[Pete38]

Bugger. Hope it's an easy fix for ya. No valuable advice from me though.

[Keithy P38]

Cheers mate! Ill wave a spanner over the bolts (whatever they may be) and if that doesn't fix it ill have to bite the bullet and replace the plug (if that's the issue).

The concentrated area of coolant is near these bolts, I'd say the engine fan is blowing it onto the starter motor.

[wayneg]

When the lower Rad tank on mine started leaking from the seal the Fan did a great job of disguising the source and spreading random drips around the lower engine.
If you cant nail it down I would recommend putting some of the new generation sealer in the coolant and taking the remainder on your trip.
Get it in Supercheap
How old is your water pump?
On early rover V8`s they had drain valves on either side of the engine, as the years went by the rh had a blank then only lh had the drain, Quite possible you are right and the bolts you refer to are blanks so could be seeping.
Rislone Liquid Copper Block Seal Intake/Radiator Stop Leak | Canadian Tire (http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/AutoRepairAccessories/SpecialtyRepair/PRDOVR~0380846P/Rislone+Liquid+Copper+Block+Seal+Intake%2BRadiator +Stop+Leak.jsp?locale=en)

[Keithy P38]

I'm thinking you are on the money Wayne! The entire cooling system is leak free - radiator is a genuine item and only a year old, water pump is about 2yrs old.

It has to be these bolts, it's the only area where the coolant is concentrated (as in - built up or "sitting") other than the starter motor, which has copped it via wind or the engine fan.

Spanner ahoy - it's the drivers side of the block (LHS as you look at it I guess). I'll degrease again after and take it for a lap around town. Need to make sure it's sorted before I leave!

That said - it's only a drip. Not even enough to leave a mark on the driveway. Better cured in town than Bamaga I guess!

[redandy3575]

I'm thinking you are on the money Wayne! The entire cooling system is leak free - radiator is a genuine item and only a year old, water pump is about 2yrs old.

It has to be these bolts, it's the only area where the coolant is concentrated (as in - built up or "sitting") other than the starter motor, which has copped it via wind or the engine fan.

Spanner ahoy - it's the drivers side of the block (LHS as you look at it I guess). I'll degrease again after and take it for a lap around town. Need to make sure it's sorted before I leave!

That said - it's only a drip. Not even enough to leave a mark on the driveway. Better cured in town than Bamaga I guess!

Yes Keith, don't get mechanical issues in Bamaga, let alone tyre probs, or else it'll cost you a pretty penny up there.

[PaulP38a]

Keithy, I hope it is just blow-off from somewhere else.
When I had coolant drips on to the starter motor in the blue Hard Rangie a few years ago, it was a slow external leak from the RH head gasket.
To check this, you will need to remove the exhaust heat shield and look for the tell-tale trails.
Here's hoping yours is something much simpler.

Cheers, Paul.

[Keithy P38]

So here's a pic of the leak... Welch plug you rekon? There are no signs of coolant leaking from anywhere higher or anywhere else in the engine bay other than what you can see there.

If so... Is there a repair that can be made without having to take it out?

http://www.cardomain.com/gallery/16286177#

If the img code doesnt work, please click the link for the pic!!

http://www.cardomain.com/gallery/16286177#

Cheers
Keithy

[wayneg]

http://www.rover.org.nz/manuals/P5B/images/p5b11.jpg

This is a diagram of the drain on an early 3.5, They are on both side by the engine mounts. You might be able to make some sense of the diagram

[Keithy P38]

Cheers Wayne!

Just cleaned the coolant off the block, took it for a 7km drive to my LR mechanic and its getting worse! Is there a welch plug above the starter motor as well? It's definitely dripping from 2 spots now (the welch plug in the diagram you posted, and from above the starter motor now)!

1 day before I depart and this happens! Argh!

[wayneg]

Think of it as being lucky, The cars trying to help. You would not want an overheating episode in the middle of nowhere. Mine died a week before a trip across the Nullarbor and back, was the fuse box. Gave me just enough time to get it fixed before the trip.

You should get an idea of the core plug locations from this pic, good luck with it.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/08/1577.jpg

[Keithy P38]

Thanks Wayne!

I have the plugs, gonna change them out tonight. Gonna be a big night!

I got 4 so I will have two spare, will replace the rest of them once I'm back from the cape.

I hope to god it's not a head gasket as well...

[wayneg]

I would still be packing a bottle of that Rislone stop leak for the trip.
I read somewhere that General Motors add similar to all new cars coolant systems just in case.

[benji]

Best of luck, ive been in a similar situation myself with a rear diff the day before we left for fraser island. Very stressful.

[Keithy P38]

I have a mate over lending his skill. The two welch plugs on the drivers side at the rear of the block are nackered! The "coolant" spotted on passenger side head is from a pinhole leak in the auto tranny cooler line.

So the head gaskets are fine (albeit the bolts may be in need of a re-torque).

Progress!

[Keithy P38]

Getting to them was fun! We took the starter motor out, inner guard out and left the exhaust manifold as it was. Talk about hard to reach places!

Ended up replacing 3 welch plugs (they were all steel and all very rusty). Replaced with brass of course.

The rest of them ill do once back from the cape, engine has to come out to do that job in the future...

It wouldn't have happened if Brian hadnt come over though! I was more an onlooker as he worked the welch like beyonce!

[Pete38]

Good to hear ya got it sorted. Sorta thought they might have been worse to replace to be honest. No exhaust manifolds needing to be removed is a good thing for sure.

[TheTree]

It wouldn't have happened if Brian hadnt come over though! I was more an onlooker as he worked the welch like beyonce!

Hard to get the image of a welsh beyonce out of my head :wallbash: