Coolant Loss / Exhaust Manifold

I have had two issues that I had not thought connected:
1) Screech under load between 2 and 2.5 k revs
2) Coolant Loss with no apparent leaks

Have read up about exhaust manifold warping etc for the screech as a possible cause and also head gasket issues for the coolant loss.

Did a bit more looky looky today with a mirror and low and behold, saw this on the rear most exhaust manifold flange.




The stud hasnt sheared off, its just the nut thats missing (exhaust has never been worked on - odd or what?).

There is clearly some soot so I guess I found the source of the screech. There is also coolant bubbling (engine running) around the edge of the manifold flange.

HG blown or worse a cracked head?

Look forward to your thoughts on these pictures.

Thanks,

Les.

Edit: Looking at the images again, this is happening above the HG right? I gues that means that may not have failed....??

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/td5-coolant-problem-187495.html

Hi Take a look at this it might help for coolant loss

Most likely the core plug that sits behind the manifold. If you're lucky, you can replace it when you put a new manifold gasket on.

I had a leak on the egr cooler pipes that caused the fan belt to slip and screech, this also caused the battery light to come on just after start up and for a few seconds.


Not sure it it is related to yours but I thought I would mention it.