Replacing KV6 Thermostat - (Keyhole Method)

[Canonite]

Glad to hear you got it sorted and all is ok.

[bornagainroverowner]

I just thought I would post this as when I bought this car, had I known what I know now I would have had a wee Maglite with me and looked through the gap by the alternator to see if it was dry. This one had a very tiny leak since day one. It had 68,000 on the clock and is in first class order otherwise and has been the best car I have ever owned. However had I known what I know now I would have bid the seller down hard to account for the leaky stat. So when I buy my next one I know what I am looking for.

[kaiser]

To do this properly, take the two 8mm bolts off, holding the "quad cam V6" sound cover. Remove the cover and have a good look.

[bornagainroverowner]

Originally Posted by kaiser

To do this properly, take the two 8mm bolts off, holding the "quad cam V6" sound cover. Remove the cover and have a good look.

Sorry Kaiser I disagree. Today I went to see a 2.5 conni with a friend who having seen mine wanted one. I explained about the stat but it has not put him of. The car we went to see was in beautiful highly polished showroom condition with loads of extras. The vendor was very keen to show us the interior and the boot and he seemed on edge. I asked to open the bonnet and his face fell and he became less bubbly. I immediately shone my Maglite down the gap beside the alternator and saw the tell tale coolant. We told him that we would take the car but only if he mad an allowance for the stat, he offered £100, I said no it had to be £500 minimum. We then took it for a run, came back and with the engine still running and every thing switched on, lights, air con, hazards, fogs, radio, wipers, etc, we opened the bonnet once more and there was the unmistakable wisps of steam drifting up from the vee. He stuck to his £100 offer but we left him with it as there are plenty out there. It took 2 seconds minimum to spot the coolant through the gap beside the alternator, no removing of engine covers is required. The vendor knew it was leaking and he gave the game away.

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by bornagainroverowner

... there was the unmistakable wisps of steam drifting up from the vee.

Duncan,

That's a pretty serious coolant leak. Others are more of a steady seepage which can be hard to spot without removing the engine cover. I can imagine a vendor being reluctant to agree to that particular check though.

Simon

[bornagainroverowner]

Originally Posted by SD1too

Duncan,

That's a pretty serious coolant leak. Others are more of a steady seepage which can be hard to spot without removing the engine cover. I can imagine a vendor being reluctant to agree to that particular check though.

Simon

I agree we were just lucky. However if you remove the expansion tank cap assuming you are going to a cold engine and the level is down I would immediately become suspicious. A good torch is essential as the level indicator is very hard to see. Removing engine covers pre sale is probably not deal, but if you are suspicious the vendor should either agree or come clean and admit to a topping up problem. I was caught when I bought my last one as I had seen it only on line and travelled south to buy on that basis. The vendor met me so the car had been running. However at the time I did not know what I now know. The car was beautifully presented and very low miles so I bought it. But soon discovered I was topping up weekly. K seal woked for a time but eventually the stat cover split. You have to assume vendors are dishonest until they prove otherwise.

[dhmatt]

I just wanted to add a thanks to the OP for this thread. The pictures were great and all went very smoothly. Took me just over two hours to get it done, access wasn't an issue with the throttle body out and the engine breather removed. I did drop the securing bolt into the V but my girly hands were able to wriggle in and get it out!

[Le Mans 190]

I've just replaced theThermostat on my KV6
but felt I couldn't do it using the Keyhole Method due to my fat fingers

so have to strip the lot out

[yorkie44]

just want to give a huge thank you to canonite i,ve used his keyhole method to change my thermostat and even with a partially disabled hand managed to complete this task quite easily thus saving me lots of ££££'s once again THANK YOU !

[Lates]

It isnt that much more work to do the other method imo.
Not too sure if I have seen it on the thread, the battery tray bolts are T40 and Bent coolant pipe is 10mm head, 8mm thread.

As for trying to knock a trader £500 for a stat leak - that was wishful thinking