Where does the water go (2.5V6)? - Page 2

Last14 · 19th May 2016, 23:31

Hi, my 2.5 also appears to have a slight leak... i also normally fill to just above the max marker. But it seems to be random in frequency, but i suspect this is related to distance travelled and therefore perhaps continuity of pressure in the system whilst the engine is hot. The ZT has been used more for shorter local journeys at the moment - wife's commute each way of about 15km.

Anyway, i've looked around for a source of the leak and cannot find one... and aside the obvious water level drop in the header tank i couldn't see where it was going. But since taking the splash tray off the engine to change the oil/filter, a distinct puddle now (sometimes) appears directly under the oil filter and the filter has the red coolant drips and stains on it. However, i can't trace the source of leak much above the filter, partly due to accessibility issue, but has anyone had this leak at this point before?

There is also a very slight escape of air pressure when removing the filler cap when cold. But not always. Seems to run at normal operating temps, 91'c to 99'c.

Is this an obvious one? Cheers.

Jules · 20th May 2016, 00:13

Coolant around oil filter is usually water pump seal I'm afraid.

When were belts and pump changed.
Also beware of brand of pump.
Some poor cheap brands out there only last 10k miles !!

Last14 · 20th May 2016, 00:15

Ahh.... ok thanks. Water pump was changed about 2yrs ago, so if its the seal, is it worth changing the water pump too? I'll have a look into whats required then. Cheers.

Jules · 20th May 2016, 00:18

I meant the rotary seal within the pump !
What brand was it can you remember?

Last14 · 20th May 2016, 00:24

oh right, ok, no unfortunately the 'specialist' that changed the belts and water pump ordered and fitted it all, so i don't know. but believe he ordered it all from Rimmers, as he usually does that. And i thought he only uses genuine or OEM stuff. but you never know..... its done about 26k km and maybe 2.5yrs since fitting. i assume the complete pump needs removing and replacing? is it always going to be a steady slow leak or gradually get worse so it 'flows' out !Cheers.

Last14 · 20th May 2016, 00:30

can the water pump actually be replaced without touching the belts are various other important (expensive) parts? Cheers.

chris75 · 20th May 2016, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last14

can the water pump actually be replaced without touching the belts are various other important (expensive) parts? Cheers.

Unfortunately , no . When you start stripping down the front end of the engine , the water pump is the last thing you come to ! I too thought I was fitting a quality make pump when I did my belts , but it lasted only some 25k miles . I suspect I would actually have done better leaving the original on , which was fine at the time !
I think there are a lot of fake parts out there .

Last14 · 21st May 2016, 03:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris75

Unfortunately , no . When you start stripping down the front end of the engine , the water pump is the last thing you come to ! I too thought I was fitting a quality make pump when I did my belts , but it lasted only some 25k miles . I suspect I would actually have done better leaving the original on , which was fine at the time !
I think there are a lot of fake parts out there .

Thanks chris75 - confirmed my worst fears!

i guess this may also be the same situation - better off with the original than whatever was put on, friday-afternoon-MGRover product, or a dodgy OEM..... i don't know. i will ask the 'specialist' but i doubt he would have it recorded, being about 2 years ago. but it was only not even 25k km! Anyway, called up on local 'specialist' and they've quoted $3200 to replace pump and belts.....as i assume if i'm going to do all that, i might as well do the belts again and not reuse existing..???

Salad-Dodger · 21st May 2016, 08:37

I had this problem on my V6 not long ago but the pump seal just destroyed itself! It was just over six months old and I just couldn't beleive how much coolant was comming out of it.
Mat at DMGRS was the supplier and he was pretty supprised too! He promptly sent me another pump which is performing well at the moment.
Most suppliers have an OEM range and an after-market range. If you look on the Rimmers site you can plainly see them. I know that Mat doesn't keep stock that has a bad fail rate so I generaly buy from him unless there are some other over-riding reasons. This situation of unreliable gineric parts is only going to get worse as our cars get older when we run out of original parts. Steve

Last14 · 22nd May 2016, 08:17

salad dodger - ok 6 months isn't long at all.... did you reuse existing belts etc whilst replacing the pump, as it was only 6 months? yes i have seen the options of original, OEM and after market advertised with the likes of Rimmers and have always stayed away from after market.

the specialist did email me back, he couldn't confirm, but said he only ever uses genuine or 'airtex'. i'll see what garages propose to use, otherwise i'll prob get one off Matt.

Any ideas as to whether this would get steadily worse, or it will just continue as it is now? which is a daily puddle of about an inch diameter whilst it cools down on the driveway by the morning. Obviously like to hold off the big expense for a while if i can..... Cheers.

19th May 2016, 23:31	#11
Last14 Loves to post ZT 190 / 75 Club SE 2.5 x2 / 75 Connie 2.5 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Posts: 257 Thanks: 42 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	Hi, my 2.5 also appears to have a slight leak... i also normally fill to just above the max marker. But it seems to be random in frequency, but i suspect this is related to distance travelled and therefore perhaps continuity of pressure in the system whilst the engine is hot. The ZT has been used more for shorter local journeys at the moment - wife's commute each way of about 15km. Anyway, i've looked around for a source of the leak and cannot find one... and aside the obvious water level drop in the header tank i couldn't see where it was going. But since taking the splash tray off the engine to change the oil/filter, a distinct puddle now (sometimes) appears directly under the oil filter and the filter has the red coolant drips and stains on it. However, i can't trace the source of leak much above the filter, partly due to accessibility issue, but has anyone had this leak at this point before? There is also a very slight escape of air pressure when removing the filler cap when cold. But not always. Seems to run at normal operating temps, 91'c to 99'c. Is this an obvious one? Cheers. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

20th May 2016, 00:13	#12
Jules This is my second home ZT 260 SE Twilight and 10 other 75 ZT's :O Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Conwy NORTH WALES Posts: 11,094 Thanks: 512 Thanked 1,116 Times in 763 Posts	Coolant around oil filter is usually water pump seal I'm afraid. When were belts and pump changed. Also beware of brand of pump. Some poor cheap brands out there only last 10k miles !! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Newbies do now!! 1. Plenum drains..all 3 or 4 year dependent 2. Cooling fan..All speeds functioning 3. Bonnet cable divider block

20th May 2016, 00:15	#13
Last14 Loves to post ZT 190 / 75 Club SE 2.5 x2 / 75 Connie 2.5 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Posts: 257 Thanks: 42 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	Ahh.... ok thanks. Water pump was changed about 2yrs ago, so if its the seal, is it worth changing the water pump too? I'll have a look into whats required then. Cheers. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

20th May 2016, 00:18	#14
Jules This is my second home ZT 260 SE Twilight and 10 other 75 ZT's :O Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Conwy NORTH WALES Posts: 11,094 Thanks: 512 Thanked 1,116 Times in 763 Posts	I meant the rotary seal within the pump ! What brand was it can you remember? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Newbies do now!! 1. Plenum drains..all 3 or 4 year dependent 2. Cooling fan..All speeds functioning 3. Bonnet cable divider block

20th May 2016, 00:24	#15
Last14 Loves to post ZT 190 / 75 Club SE 2.5 x2 / 75 Connie 2.5 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Posts: 257 Thanks: 42 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	oh right, ok, no unfortunately the 'specialist' that changed the belts and water pump ordered and fitted it all, so i don't know. but believe he ordered it all from Rimmers, as he usually does that. And i thought he only uses genuine or OEM stuff. but you never know..... its done about 26k km and maybe 2.5yrs since fitting. i assume the complete pump needs removing and replacing? is it always going to be a steady slow leak or gradually get worse so it 'flows' out !Cheers. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

20th May 2016, 00:30	#16
Last14 Loves to post ZT 190 / 75 Club SE 2.5 x2 / 75 Connie 2.5 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Posts: 257 Thanks: 42 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	can the water pump actually be replaced without touching the belts are various other important (expensive) parts? Cheers. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

21st May 2016, 08:37	#19
Salad-Dodger Gets stuck in MG ZT-T 190 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Chatham Posts: 592 Thanks: 34 Thanked 66 Times in 62 Posts	I had this problem on my V6 not long ago but the pump seal just destroyed itself! It was just over six months old and I just couldn't beleive how much coolant was comming out of it. Mat at DMGRS was the supplier and he was pretty supprised too! He promptly sent me another pump which is performing well at the moment. Most suppliers have an OEM range and an after-market range. If you look on the Rimmers site you can plainly see them. I know that Mat doesn't keep stock that has a bad fail rate so I generaly buy from him unless there are some other over-riding reasons. This situation of unreliable gineric parts is only going to get worse as our cars get older when we run out of original parts. Steve

22nd May 2016, 08:17	#20
Last14 Loves to post ZT 190 / 75 Club SE 2.5 x2 / 75 Connie 2.5 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Posts: 257 Thanks: 42 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts	salad dodger - ok 6 months isn't long at all.... did you reuse existing belts etc whilst replacing the pump, as it was only 6 months? yes i have seen the options of original, OEM and after market advertised with the likes of Rimmers and have always stayed away from after market. the specialist did email me back, he couldn't confirm, but said he only ever uses genuine or 'airtex'. i'll see what garages propose to use, otherwise i'll prob get one off Matt. Any ideas as to whether this would get steadily worse, or it will just continue as it is now? which is a daily puddle of about an inch diameter whilst it cools down on the driveway by the morning. Obviously like to hold off the big expense for a while if i can..... Cheers. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]