W plate 1.8 Leak at Inlet Manifold

Hi looking for some good advice, but tried a search and was a bit overwhelmed. For a day or two I've notice the coolant level dropping, so using my very basic maintainence skills, I've checked the cap, etc. and looked for the creamy stuff which shows HGF. Thankfully these were all negavtive, but it's left me worried. Then today, after the car had been unused for 24hrs, I discovered a big pool of water underneath, and a definite drip. Called the AA out, and the long and the short of it is that there is a leak on the N/S of the inlet manifold, and he thinks it will probably be the rubber seal or gasket that's away? What do you all think? Incidentally, I also get the creaking/groaning from the rear end when reversing, it's a little bit like the noise you get if you reverse too quickly, if that makes sense? Had the IRD changed last year after major breakdown on the motorway, and apart from that no real probs, so am expecting them to start soon (40.5K on the clock.)

Sorry for the long post!

the inlet gasket is

EE11 LKJ101110L £5.85 + VAT

Slightly awkward to remove but doooable, chuck the old flange nuts and replace with standard M8 nuts, check the manifold is straight when off the head, no warppage!


Not sure what you mean by the noise, try removing the prop and jacking the rear end up spin the wheels.

Thanks, I ordered one today before I read your post. My concern is that it's a prelude to HGF, so am taking it to a pro I trust to check tomorrow, although I'll do this myself. He's said he'd also remove the ballbearing if he was doing the manifold gasket, any thoughts on that? Also, he mentioned the factory fix for the Cylinder Head without me asking about it, have any of you gone for it? I love my FL, and would like another year or two at least out of it, but I don't want to overdo it in case I do end up with all the main faults at once! Does that make sense?

jacjac13 said:

Thanks, I ordered one today before I read your post. My concern is that it's a prelude to HGF, so am taking it to a pro I trust to check tomorrow, although I'll do this myself. He's said he'd also remove the ballbearing if he was doing the manifold gasket, any thoughts on that? Also, he mentioned the factory fix for the Cylinder Head without me asking about it, have any of you gone for it? I love my FL, and would like another year or two at least out of it, but I don't want to overdo it in case I do end up with all the main faults at once! Does that make sense?

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No I don't agree with removing the ball bearing, aka jiggle valve. It works fine and expels any air from the head.

If you squeeze the top hose several times you will hear it rattling about, that means its not stuck. On the outflow the bearing doesn't seal the pipe, only on the return does it stop coolant or air from going back in.

The FL also has a vent tube from the top of the Rad.

Not sure what you mean by head mod, MLS gasket???

I was probably the first DIYer to fit one around 3yrs ago, without the oil rail or PRT, or head bolts.

Still going strong, but the head was straight and the liners stood proud

it is most important that the coolant system is bled properly or head gasket damage will be result, bleed screw on coolant hose right down beside the air filter housing, remove the screw while filling with coolant, make sure coolant running out free of air before replacing, other bleed screw on heater pipe near bulk head, make sure the heater control is switched to hot for bleeding.