L series coolant leak

Hi All

Our 1999 freelander 2.0l has developed a coolant leak. There is no water in the oil or oil in the water, and the system is not pressurised when the engine is running. I do not beliveit's the head gasket as there is a distinct smell of rad water around in the engine bay. But I cannot see the leak!. What is the most common cause of coolant leaks on an L series engine.

Brian

Have you had a good stare under the bonnet with the engine running to spot any water escaping, put newspaper down to catch drips and leaks? Have a good look round the bottom of the bay for any staining or obvious pooling anywhere. Don't automatically assume the problem is directly above though as water travels. From there start from the top with the expansion bottle and work from there, checking hose condition, connections etc. I would take a wild stab in the dark at the intercooler hoses or oil cooler, although when that bit fails it's more usual for water to mix with the oil, which then has people thinking the head gasket has failed. I've mentioned this a couple of times in posts but some tracer dye in your coolant will be a big help to spot almost any leak.

Just had a similar kind of thing. Felt strange to start with - first noticed it when I got home
from a 100k 110kph run (no overheating) - but when went back into the garage to get something
a few minutes after getting home I noticed a puddle under the front RH side. Searched high
and low but couldn't find the leak. Suspected the expansion tank connection or radiator
top hose clip as I'd had to do a job on the former and didn't think the latter was replace properly.
Filled it up and it seemed OK - just round town and short trips to the beach. Seemed to be
losing water but not overheating. Then it definitely started getting worse and we found some water on
the fan. Then after a few more 100k trips we actually say the water spurting out of the radiator - top right.

Ran it for a few weeks with a good supply of water in the car. Have to it's my only vehicle.
Got the new radiator on Tuesday and did the job yesterday. Long job - lot's of stuff to come
out - but not hard.

Not saying that this is your problem, but I would push it on some longer runs and keep the coolant
topped up with water - to push the system to fail more clearly. I've only had this 1998 L-Series
for 6 months, and already had to replace the radiator top hose. It still had one of those ones with
bonded T-sections and that failed - nice big split just below the top T.

Something nobody warned me about though. Was lying on my back undoing the intercooler
bottom hose. Someone had done up the clip at a funny angle so I had really go at it. As it come
loose I got a face full of oil. :doh: - not a lot - bit of a puddle collected over the years in the bottom.

have seen the metal heater pipe corroding it , from memory, runs round rear of engine and bolt on with bell housing bolts, recent clutch or similar work could of started leak if metal not great. Not allways easy to find as if tiny breech may only leak under pressure.