Cracked Cylinder Head - Take two.
Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 7:26 am
Hi, some of you may remember me from recently when I suspected a cracked head because of heavy coolant loss. Having booked the car in to have it done, it turned out this wasn't the case and I was back to square one.
It has taken me 3 months of faffing around to finally find the issue. (last night at 11pm to be precise). This time, I put the correct amount of UV dye into the system and got a UV light that was actually UV. (be careful buying these over the internet as they are not always what they say they are)
So success! Having taken the car out for a long run, I went up on rams, took off the engine cover and fired up the UV cannon. (from my uncles night club) It lit up every last spec of white under the car, which was slightly confusing, but then I hit the mother load! Despite being almost impossible to get to and see, I found a steady stream of flourecent coolant running down the front of the engine and collecting around the top of the sump. You cannot imagine my joy to discover this!
From what I could see, it was coming from behind the top left hand pulley wheel of the engine, which I think is the water pump. (Please confirm so I'm doubly sure)
What next? I guess a new water pump.
As this is the first time I have done this, and I guess the first time my garage has done this, do you clever people have any suggestions, draining the system, sealing the pump, etc. I guess like most jobs on the bongo there is a certain nack to it.
Thanks for all your help, and while it took me some time (as you said it would) I got there in the end.
Regards
Joel
It has taken me 3 months of faffing around to finally find the issue. (last night at 11pm to be precise). This time, I put the correct amount of UV dye into the system and got a UV light that was actually UV. (be careful buying these over the internet as they are not always what they say they are)
So success! Having taken the car out for a long run, I went up on rams, took off the engine cover and fired up the UV cannon. (from my uncles night club) It lit up every last spec of white under the car, which was slightly confusing, but then I hit the mother load! Despite being almost impossible to get to and see, I found a steady stream of flourecent coolant running down the front of the engine and collecting around the top of the sump. You cannot imagine my joy to discover this!
From what I could see, it was coming from behind the top left hand pulley wheel of the engine, which I think is the water pump. (Please confirm so I'm doubly sure)
What next? I guess a new water pump.
As this is the first time I have done this, and I guess the first time my garage has done this, do you clever people have any suggestions, draining the system, sealing the pump, etc. I guess like most jobs on the bongo there is a certain nack to it.
Thanks for all your help, and while it took me some time (as you said it would) I got there in the end.
Regards
Joel