Thread: catastrophic coolant 'leak' (more like a pouring out)

Hi,
I forgot to ask.... can someone please advise what the diameter is of the hoses leading to the thermostat. I need to make sure I have the right size metal clamps...


much appreciated...


Thanks

Lp

ID is 31.8mm (1.1/4") so allow for around 3-4mm each wall guessing around 38 which is 1.1/2".

Forgive me for coming in late and I know your talking about bleed screws being the problem here, but my two cents is that it looks like a cracked thermostat jetting coolant onto the fan.

Originally Posted by BIG O

Forgive me for coming in late and I know your talking about bleed screws being the problem here, but my two cents is that it looks like a cracked thermostat jetting coolant onto the fan.

Hello,
Thanks for your reply... never too late :-D

===================================

An update....

To cut a long and frustrating story short hubby decided to take the top radiator hose off. In doing so a small piece fell out. I can only describe it as rectangular in shape, plastic moulded & raised with thread inside.

I'm guaging that this would have been fixed at some stage to the INSIDE of the hose alowing for the bleeder screw to be screwed into the hose (my mind boggles as to why it was ever designed like that!?!).

Eitherway, i'm leaning towards a new hose kit. Hubby seems to think it can be 're-engineered' (which makes sense) so I will 'let' him do that while I wait for a new hose kit to arrive.

I've also added to my list a gasket for the throttle body (known leak) and some shiny new screw clamps. (Wow, I may just have my underbonnet return to a grease/dirt monger state instead of a lovely shade of pink!)

As for the thermostat, given the amount of coolant spewed everywhere I'm going to attack the engine/bay with a pressure washer and remove/inspect the thermostat/bottom hose over the weekend. Best case the thermostat is ok > worst case I get a new one.

Thanks again.... will keep you posted / if I need any more help :-D

Cheers,
Lp

Originally Posted by Psimpson7

There is something odd with that hose going into the bottom of the thermostat.

I have attached a version of your 3rd image.

there are 2 hose clamps as far as I can see. The original one is the one I have highlighted with '11'

An extra one has been fitted (highlighted with '1'), but to me it looks like the clamp isn't on the hose, more appears that it has dropped down and is clamping just on the thermostat itself. (Its very difficult to tell in the image)

Could the extra clamp have missed the hose, and the hose has come partly off the thermostat because the original clamp has lost its tension.

The spray pattern looks like it could just be coming out of that hose.

I would have a good look at the way the hose is clamped there. Maybe even remove both clamps, and refit with a new one.

I agree, dont drive the car until this is sorted. Its likely to only be a simple fix, but coukld be very costly if you overheat it.

Good luck.

(Edited to add, the second pic actually shows that the second clamp may be ok - so maybe disregard my suggestion)

Thanks for the reply and your edited pic...

Funnily enough I thought the very same thing when I realised there were two clamps.... more to the point why - did someone just get lazy or was there a more 'sinister' problem that warranted two clamps....

On Sat i'll be removing and inspecting the thermostat/hoses/clamps to see what's what and will put on new clamps (metal screw ones) when I put everything back together again.

Do you have any tips on how best to remove the original clamps?


Cheers,
Lp

Good on ya Landy princess. As to that bit of plastic that fell out I once had what I think was that come loose inside the top hose on my D2 TD5 (similar weak plastic rubbish bleed screw). It stayed in place but would rotate inside the hose making tightening difficult. May well be yours came loose in the hose - when they do, you can't tighten the beeed screw properly as the hidden female half keeps turning. Maybe someone gave up and left it too loose? If you pinch the hose against it you can stop it turning whilst you tighten the screw. I changed the hose, made a brass bleed screw and never looked back!
Dave

Oh! And the spring clamps. There's probably a special tool but I use standard blunt nose pliers and squish the clamp bigger then wiggle it onto a free section of hose away from the join before pulling off the hose.

X2 for Sully's suggestion. Fit an engine saver the sensor goes on where the bleed screw fits anyway!

The piece inside the hose was sealed behind the hole and was what the screw went into. When it comes unstuck the head of the screw isn't strong enough to keep it in place. This is what led me to modify mine. Just cut out the section and fit an insert.