UV coolant leak - with pictures

Ok, so I have suddenly developed a small coolant leak. After a couple of hundred miles, it might have dropped 2cm in the expansion tank. But it has been perfect up until the last month. It has previously had its head gasket done with an uprated one and had its timing belt and waterpump done about 3000 miles ago.

So I put some UV die in a week ago and came to inspect it tonight in the dark.

Any ideas where the leak is coming from? I can't work it out. The hoses to and from the expansion tank are ok, but this is at the base of the rear of the engine. Not far from the timing belt cover by the looks of it. Where should I look?

thanks in advance

Nick

I'd start with checking the inlet manifold gasket.

Ok, thanks, but... I've no idea where the inlet manifold even is. I'm happy to have a go and I've found plenty of guides for doing it on a K series engine which make it sound simple, but not found a guide for doing it on a TF with no access. Any pictures? Any pointers? Anything else to replace whilst I'm there like the thermostat?

cheers,

Nick

Hi Nick
I would go with tc on this. This is a common fault on the plastic manifold, I have had mine fail twice!!

I sent my car into AR Griffiths, who specialise in all mg car repairs in Derby. Other than replace with a new manifold, or aluminium manifold, we tried a double gasket, which has worked a treat. The gaskets were also the new improved gasket. Good luck on this one.

Its a 2004 with PRT, so no need to do the thermostat at least. I've ordered the uprated gasket from Rimmers which will come tomorrow.

Any pointers anyone for how to do it?

This is one of the (many!) pain in the bottom jobs to do on the TF. You will curse the day you decided to try it.

You need patience, tollerance and the smallest possible hands!

Job its self is straight forward, but access is dire!

You will need a 1/4" or 3/8" socket set with flexible joint and 6 point sockets (cos if you round a nut off you are in trouble!)

There are two or three bolts under the manifold that you can not see, can not touch...but they are there! Mirror, lots of light and manoever the socket into position.

If you can remove these then you will be fine, untill you come to replacing them!

Strongly recomend you consider converting to aluminium manifold while removing plastic one!

Good luck....

I have access to a 4 post ramp at work. Is it easier with a ramp or is it still a nightmare? If it's that bad, I might take it somewhere...

thanks

Nick

NikTheGeek wrote: ...........and I've found plenty of guides for doing it on a K series engine which make it sound simple, but not found a guide for doing it on a TF with no access...……...

The TF is the same as the F, access is through the engine access panel.

NikTheGeek wrote: I have access to a 4 post ramp at work. Is it easier with a ramp or is it still a nightmare? If it's that bad, I might take it somewhere...

thanks

Nick

You have to work from above.

your car has an alloy manifold not a plastic one. youcan see it in your photo behind theoil filler cap.
a/ this makes it less likely that it is a manifold gasket leak, but it is still possible.
b/ it means that the gasket you have ordered is the wrong one. The uprated gasket is for the plastic manifold.

From where you describe theleak, it could be the water pump. Which is in behind the bottom pulley.

If it is an inlet manifold leak then the alloy one is much easier to work with as it is a two piece manifold.

Damn. Well, it was only £9 plus postage. Not the end of the world. I thought waterpump too at first. The water pump was replaced when the timing belt was replaced and both were done when the cam shaft oil seal failed. I know the garage got the waterpump and timing belt from ECP, so no idea what the quality was like. The only reason I asked them to change it was because they were already doing the timing belt and hadn't offered to change it.

Knowing that the timing belt is reasonably new (2 years, 3000 miles), can I change the waterpump without taking the belt off? I mean take it off, but not remove it? Does that make it easier or not? I assume the waterpump is behind the timing belt cover so if I take that off, I assume I'll be able to see a leak better....

thanks

Nick

Good news (ish)

I've just had it up on a 4 post and from underneath I can see that the coolant leak is around a small u-shaped hose - where the clamp is. It isn't coming from anywhere else. It's not coming from above it as there's no UV dye anywhere else. It's dripping down, but that hose is the highest point of any dye and it's damp to the touch.

The bad news is I've no idea how the hell to access it. But at least it can't be as bad as the inlet manifold gasket!

I think it's no.71 in this picture:
https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID018845

Nick

that hose connects the steel coolant pipe to the thermostat housing.

The best way to get at it would be to remove the inlet plenum chamber from the rest of the inlet manifold.
The plenum is attached to the branch section of the manifold by easily accesible bolts. undo them and you should be able to lift the plenum up to reveal the thermostat housing. It will be stuck to the lower half by the gasket and/or possibly sealant. Be careful with other electrical and hose connections to the plenum. You'll probably have to disconnect the small vapour return hose from the rocker cover to the plenum. You'll also need a new gasket to reseal the plenum to the branch manifold.