Member Since: 15 Jul 2014
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 703
Coolant appearing to leak down the back of the engine
I am not sure whether others have come across this already but I could not find anything when I searched on here while I was trying to track down the source of my leak so hopefully it may save someone some time and hassle in the future.
A bit of background, last Sunday I noticed a small pool of coolant under the car after an afternoon out with the family so on Monday I stripped the engine and gearbox under trays off and this is what I found.
This is the right hand side of the bell housing, hopefully you can see the surface is covered in a film of coolant with drips forming on the bolt heads and the left hand side was very similar. There were no immediately obvious signs of leaks from the top of the engine so what followed was lots of cleaning, drying, poking around, driving round the block and head scratching while I tried to find the leak. Then I had a hazy recollection of an oil leak on a valve cover on an old Rover 3.5 V8 that pooled in the centre of the V until it leaked out of the back and into the bell housing giving the impression of a failed rear crankshaft oil seal so I started to concentrate my searches in the centre of the V and this is what I found.
This unit sits directly under the Y piece in the inlet system where the EGR pipes come in and is not at all easy to see unless you peer very carefully down the gaps around the Y piece but the joint between the two halves of the unit has started to fail allowing coolant to pool in the centre of the V and run out at the rear. Interestingly not a single drip of coolant had leaked down the front of the engine, presumably this is either due to the shape of the V or the angle the engine is mounted in the chassis.
The unit is bolted to the two cylinder heads by 4 bolts clamping on circular soft rubber seals and connects to the oil cooler by means of a push on o-ring connection so is simple enough to replace.
1997 Defender 90 for the kids and I to have a go at some competitive off road RTV and Tyro trials, daughter picked up her first trophy over the August Bank Holiday.
Previous Land Rover history
1996 P38 4.6 V8 Autobiography
1996 Discovery TDi 300
1972 Range Rover 3.5 V8
LWB Hard Top Series 3
LWB Truck Cab Series 2A
Not been without a Land Rover for over 40 years - I must need therapy!
26th Oct 2016 1:17 am
caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
You will probably find it is the "throttle body"
It's plastic develops a hairline crack and expands when hot. So leaks when it gets hot enough and closes when cool.
Fairly cheap fix.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
26th Oct 2016 2:12 am
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
I had the same a couple of months ago, Anglefire had his split at 8,500 ft up in the Pyrenees a couple of weeks ago. That was interesting! Lol.Bodsys Brake Bible
Clock/ SNOTM /3Flash / 4x4Info /BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes / Gearbox Reset See It Here
26th Oct 2016 6:02 am
MGCarr
Member Since: 15 Jul 2014
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 703
The Pyrenees makes Booths Supermarket car park in Garstang, where mine happened, seem positively mundane
1997 Defender 90 for the kids and I to have a go at some competitive off road RTV and Tyro trials, daughter picked up her first trophy over the August Bank Holiday.
Previous Land Rover history
1996 P38 4.6 V8 Autobiography
1996 Discovery TDi 300
1972 Range Rover 3.5 V8
LWB Hard Top Series 3
LWB Truck Cab Series 2A
Not been without a Land Rover for over 40 years - I must need therapy!
26th Oct 2016 9:16 am
ruggedpeak
Member Since: 10 Jun 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1625
Can someone advise on the part number for this component please so I can do a precautionary replacement.
Thanks. Tony
Club RLD Wheel Protector & Sump Guard
Club 4x4 Info activated
11th Dec 2016 3:30 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
Clock/ SNOTM /3Flash / 4x4Info /BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes / Gearbox Reset See It Here
11th Dec 2016 11:58 pm
ruggedpeak
Member Since: 10 Jun 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1625
Thanks Ian
I'll add it to my Xmas list.Tony
Club RLD Wheel Protector & Sump Guard
Club 4x4 Info activated
12th Dec 2016 9:24 am
Rich84
Member Since: 26 Jun 2013
Location: South Australia
Posts: 238
It's a consumable item in warm climates...
I replace mine at the same interval as the timing belt.2008 RRS TDV6 - Chawton White/Black/Lined Oak - 20's, h/k, sunroof - 350K KM.
2010 Audi A6 3.0T S-Line - Phamtom Black/exclusive 2-tone valcona 184K
2000 Audi A4 avant 1.8t Q Sport - Phantom Black/black 385K KM
1990 Nissan Pintara TRX - red - lots of mods - 439K KM
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