Red gooey stuff!

[AussieAub]

Going to do my best to describe this, but its difficult....

Have notived what looks like a clear small puddle of water dripped from somewhere near the front of the engine. Roughly appears to be between engine and rad. When touched and rubbed between fingers appears very greasy, and appears clear. When looking up from underneath the engine, there appears to be a few "runs/drips" of what I can only describe as looking and feeling like red wax. Looks mainly from a small dia pipe connected with a nut at the front passenger side coener of the engine.

Noticed this over the weekend, cleared up what I could see with a rag, and haven't since seen it dripping.

Got home from work tonight and thought I'd just check again. Opened the bonnet to find runs of the same red waxy goo stuff on the two main water pipes on top of the rad and slight deposit on the sound proofing of the bonnet/hood, together with what looks like white spray marks on components inline with the fan. But these white marks don't appear to rub off easily, so not sure if thats related.

I appreciate its a bit vague (and a bit dark now to take pics), but has anyone any idea what this might be? Not loosing coolant going by indicator on expansion bottle, and haven't yet noticed anything odd behaviour wise.

Here we go again....:(

Cheers,

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page (http://aussieaub.blogspot.com/)

[V8Landy]

i would say it sounds like an transmission cooler line blown a seal or a hole in the pipe. Hope this helps;)

[whitakerb]

Could be the tranny cooler pipes leaking or some part of the power steering leaking. I think the PS reservoir and pump is on the passenger side of the discos... Check your fluid levels and go from there

[sniegy]

The red gooey wax descrition sounds like coolant, when solidifying.
This is supposed to leave a trace to find where it initially comes from.
Also from your description atop the engine from cooler pipes.
It could be coolant.

[Boxer]

Quick question, do you run red or green coolant? sniegy makes a good point with coolant. When my head gaskets were leaking I was getting a green waxy mess from them.

[AussieAub]

Quick question, do you run red or green coolant? sniegy makes a good point with coolant. When my head gaskets were leaking I was getting a green waxy mess from them.

Its the red stuff, but can't see any visable leaking points around engine gaskets....but will check again in the light tomorrow.

Cheers,

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page (http://aussieaub.blogspot.com)

[Kandy]

To test it if its coolant, taste it -- coolant contains glycol? a sugar-- funny isnt it so if its sweet-- coolant. PS fluid or tranny fluid??-- can be exactly the same-- but some fluid above near the radiator with white flecks remaining is coolant and can be traced by following the white flecks. Finding the source is soooo much fun sometimes, -- good luck.
Steve

[Blknight.aus]

I strongly advise not doing that.....

if your running the red oat do a litmus test. pool shops will carry what you need to check it for acidity.

[BigJon]

I would be pretty confident to say it is coolant. Find and rectify the leak before it turns into a major failure with engine damage.

[AussieAub]

I would be pretty confident to say it is coolant. Find and rectify the leak before it turns into a major failure with engine damage.

But the coolant level doesn't appear to be dropping....? :(

Cheers,

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page (http://aussieaub.blogspot.com/)

[Ferret]

Yep coolant. Throttle body gasket leak or pipes associated with it.

And Glycol is very poisonous - don't taste it.

[BigJon]

But the coolant level doesn't appear to be dropping....? :(

Cheers,

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page (http://aussieaub.blogspot.com/)


It doesn't take a big leak to give what appears to be a large amount of residue.

[bob h]

Do a physical check of the water level in the actual radiator as I have seen the coolant level normal and the radiator low sometimes. You will have a small leak from one of your coolant hoses for sure. Bob

[AussieAub]

Right.....had a god look this morning and found that the little black (bleed?) screw thing in top middle of the top hose (over the cowling) was wobbling around. Upon trying to tighten it up it just fell out. Under the pipe was was a small puddle on the cowling itself, and I also noticed the fan blades have drip marks on them.

Can this screw part be replaced with something more substantial, or am I looking at a new pipe section?

added:
Just taken the rad cowling off and can see coolant splattered all over the place! When slightly squeezing the top hose I can hear air from where the head of the bleed screw was, though the threaded part is still in the hole. Have sourced a new top hose, but is it a simple case of undo and replace, or am I looking at a full system bleed? Any info/tips appreciated.....

Cheers,

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page (http://aussieaub.blogspot.com)

[Boxer]

Yep coolant. Throttle body gasket leak or pipes associated with it.

And Glycol is very poisonous - don't taste it.

On that subject, I bypassed the coolant circuit through my throttle body. Doesn't get cold enough in Sydney for my liking, and if I'm ever heading to the snow, I could still hook it up.

[gd_disco]

Can this screw part be replaced with something more substantial, or am I looking at a new pipe section?



Just fixed this on my TD5.
Mail ordered a brass bleed screw from MR in Qld (serch the site). Came in a few days.
Used a heated old screwdriver (thin one) pushed into the remaining stuck plastic threaded part in the top tube, and easily removed by unscrewing.

Silicone sealer and tape worked for me as a temporary fix till the part came - yuk.

Cheers

[Pedro_The_Swift]

:eek:
with the engine running it will pump masses out of that bleed screw!

If the thread is stripped I'm assuming a new T piece would fix it??