P38A bleedin' coolant

Your suspicion would be cracked block and liner issue? I've thought this many times. I've had both heads off, I've done pressure tests, both hot and cold, even with engine running. I've done tests to see if there's any exhaust gas in the expansion tank too. Maybe I'm biased but i can't see any evidence.
My latest find, took off the return pipe to blow it thru and no coolant came out of the radiator. Much poking and i pulled out some bath sealer!!!
I can't rule out more being present somewhere

Bath sealer? You have to wonder.

I can only assume that's what it was, all squidgy. It was round the water pump when i took that off

Are you able to pressurise with a hose pipe & see if the water flows ok?

I never said head issue, that’s your paranoia again

Just saying, I think it’s strange, stranger than you can pull aV8 set of heads but not get air out. I think it’s something lurking from before you had it.

RangeRoller dt said:

I never said head issue, that’s your paranoia again

Just saying, I think it’s strange, stranger than you can pull aV8 set of heads but not get air out. I think it’s something lurking from before you had it.

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Fair point. What could be lurking? Any idea? Apart from more bath sealant

I'm pretty sure I'm getting all the air out, initially, i think there's more going on

What's so frustrating is i had it running fine once!! Then i had to strip the lot to replace the camshaft

Haven’t a clue - i know if you have the skill to pull it apart then get it running , you shouldn’t get a problem filling the water up like this - you are pretty thorough

I presume none of the stuff going back on was warped? Seen some torque head bolts up wrong due to metric bit instead of unc - that ended in tears pretty quick he couldn’t drive about like you?

This has got me stumped, which I find interesting

I wish i had the time, ie a week off work to spend on it, preferably inside and away from neighbours! A few hours at a weekend isn't cutting it and very frustrating.
I'm pretty sure everything went on straight, within my measuring skills at least
I know that right now there's air in it somewhere because when i pressurise the expansion tank, the level goes down.
I need to run it again, get as much air out as i can, then see if the level goes down under pressure again

More investigation required. Could be something simple, this is typical RR behaviour - nothing ever as simple as should be

Absolutely! And I'm sure it will be simple and I'll kick myself when i figure out out
It's just getting there

Right!
The small return hose from rad to expansion tank seemed partially blocked, so i had a tanteum and put on the new tank i bought!
While i was at it i noticed the small hose underneath that goes to the intake heater was full of coolant. Odd!
Gave it a blow and nothing! Attached airline, disconnected other end of hose, 30 psi and nothing!! Got grumpy with the air hose and out squirts the nastiest, horriblest gunk you ever saw.

Put everything back together and oh my, how easy it is to fill!! No tickling it, no dicking about. Just fill it up
Went for a drive, coolant level dropped write a bit. All seems steady.

So thinks i just solved my long term issue?!

I bet you are smiling now

Hope this is it, one more red beast on the road

Well done

Indeed. Cheers! I really hope so!

Just been checking coolant types as i need to top up a bit. Got the blue ethylene glycol stuff in, presume that's right for a thor? I mean, the engine hasn't changed much since it's inception when non of this fancy new stuff was around

Sounds like you have sorted good and proper, result

kermit_rr said:

Indeed. Cheers! I really hope so!

Just been checking coolant types as i need to top up a bit. Got the blue ethylene glycol stuff in, presume that's right for a thor? I mean, the engine hasn't changed much since it's inception when non of this fancy new stuff was around

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got pink / red in my P38 & L322

Blue in Classic

brianp38dse said:

Sounds like you have sorted good and proper, result

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Thanks, hope so

ukadamwest said:

got pink / red in my P38 & L322

Blue in Classic

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Isn't it the same engine in the classic and p38? Antifreeze baffles me

Colour not always helpful. I think there's 2 types and they don't mix. One is better for ally components possibly.

My oil burner has green stuff in it. Usually red in the V8.