Water Leak - Help Please!

lb4406 · 13th June 2011, 17:12

Came out of work to find the following interesting water pattern under where the car was parked:

I checked the water in the header tank, thats seemed fine, I couldn't see any obvious leaks under the bonnet, so I thought I'd chance it home (I only live about 10 miles away) - drove home fine, temp stayed on normal.

Any any ideas, like everyone else with a k-series Im hoping its not the dreaded the HGF but if it is at least I haven't cooked the engine. I was thinking water pump or Inlet manifold gasket - whats the recommended way of checking either?

Nearside:

Offside Underneath:

Any advice gratefully received

Ta.

Thomas · 13th June 2011, 18:21

first port of call..............have you checked your plenums????

lb4406 · 13th June 2011, 18:48

Plenums checked dry as a bone, poured some water through them and it comes out fine so they aren't blocked.

Felt all round the engine and the inlet manifold , no sign of any leaks either. no white smoke in the exhaust and the header tank level is fine.

We did have a major downpour most of yesterday so I'm wondering its the run off from that as I can't see anything else anywhere.

Heater also still works fine and both front footwells are dry as a bone.

craig8661 · 13th June 2011, 20:12

would it be the air con drains

Fingers21 · 13th June 2011, 20:15

+1, i'm thinking aircon drains. Doesn't look like there is any colouration to the watermarks.

chrissyboy · 13th June 2011, 20:52

looks to me like the drains decided to clear out them selfs as you can see its wet in one of the pics where the water would exit from the plenum drain hose

lb4406 · 13th June 2011, 21:03

Water looks clear - It seems to be running down what I assume are the brake lines (the two black pipes that run down the transmission tunnel) (it's not brake fluid) , thats as much as I can see. It looks like its run down from wherever those pipes go and then run along that chassis rail.

I haven;t had the air-con on today (in fact only switch it on for a few mins a couple of times a week to stop the seals drying out) - I haven't tried it since to see if its working - if it is the aircon drains does that mean the aircon is knackered?

I've taken it for another 5 or 6 mile run after a good look round the engine earlier and no sign of anything untoward.

lb4406 · 14th June 2011, 06:25

Had another look this morning - it has a very small pool now on the left hand side (where the larger pool was in the original photo) - Header tank level still fine - and I've just driven it to work and its been fine!?

eskezz · 14th June 2011, 08:49

Run with the temperature in diagnostic mode for a few days to check no irregular readings which could suggest coolant leak.

lb4406 · 14th June 2011, 10:07

Thanks - how do I do get it into Diag mode? I have the standard display not the IPK?

13th June 2011, 17:12	#1
lb4406 Regular poster 75 classic se Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: redditch Posts: 60 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Water Leak - Help Please! Came out of work to find the following interesting water pattern under where the car was parked: I checked the water in the header tank, thats seemed fine, I couldn't see any obvious leaks under the bonnet, so I thought I'd chance it home (I only live about 10 miles away) - drove home fine, temp stayed on normal. Any any ideas, like everyone else with a k-series Im hoping its not the dreaded the HGF but if it is at least I haven't cooked the engine. I was thinking water pump or Inlet manifold gasket - whats the recommended way of checking either? Nearside: Offside Underneath: Any advice gratefully received Ta.

13th June 2011, 18:21	#2
Thomas This is my second home MG6 1.8T GT SE Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Falkirk Posts: 9,510 Thanks: 106 Thanked 173 Times in 128 Posts	first port of call..............have you checked your plenums???? __________________ MG6 1.8 TCi in Artic White 1975 Land Rover Series 3

13th June 2011, 20:12	#4
craig8661 Posted a thing or two rover 75 tourer cdt Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chesterfield Posts: 1,924 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	would it be the air con drains __________________ http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/a...y%20se/sig.jpg spoilt as i own a cdt auto connoisseur se cdt auto member 829 mods so far synergy 2 heated washer jets cant really add anything else as it has it all lol

13th June 2011, 20:52	#6
chrissyboy This is my second home lovely little ford focus. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: East Dulwich Posts: 7,877 Thanks: 2 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts	looks to me like the drains decided to clear out them selfs as you can see its wet in one of the pics where the water would exit from the plenum drain hose __________________ [ I'm really confused. -I keep dreaming I'm an insomniac

13th June 2011, 21:03	#7
lb4406 Regular poster 75 classic se Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: redditch Posts: 60 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Water looks clear - It seems to be running down what I assume are the brake lines (the two black pipes that run down the transmission tunnel) (it's not brake fluid) , thats as much as I can see. It looks like its run down from wherever those pipes go and then run along that chassis rail. I haven;t had the air-con on today (in fact only switch it on for a few mins a couple of times a week to stop the seals drying out) - I haven't tried it since to see if its working - if it is the aircon drains does that mean the aircon is knackered? I've taken it for another 5 or 6 mile run after a good look round the engine earlier and no sign of anything untoward. Last edited by lb4406; 13th June 2011 at 21:07..

13th June 2011, 18:48	#3
lb4406 Regular poster 75 classic se Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: redditch Posts: 60 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Plenums checked dry as a bone, poured some water through them and it comes out fine so they aren't blocked. Felt all round the engine and the inlet manifold , no sign of any leaks either. no white smoke in the exhaust and the header tank level is fine. We did have a major downpour most of yesterday so I'm wondering its the run off from that as I can't see anything else anywhere. Heater also still works fine and both front footwells are dry as a bone.

13th June 2011, 20:15	#5
Fingers21 Regular poster '53 zt turbo Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Elm, Cambs Posts: 60 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	+1, i'm thinking aircon drains. Doesn't look like there is any colouration to the watermarks.

14th June 2011, 06:25	#8
lb4406 Regular poster 75 classic se Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: redditch Posts: 60 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Had another look this morning - it has a very small pool now on the left hand side (where the larger pool was in the original photo) - Header tank level still fine - and I've just driven it to work and its been fine!?

14th June 2011, 08:49	#9
eskezz Loves to post rover 75 saloon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: st helens Posts: 261 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Run with the temperature in diagnostic mode for a few days to check no irregular readings which could suggest coolant leak.

14th June 2011, 10:07	#10
lb4406 Regular poster 75 classic se Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: redditch Posts: 60 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks - how do I do get it into Diag mode? I have the standard display not the IPK?