[blue_cheese]

Evening,

Noticed my 4.6 has been losing some coolant recently.
Pressurised the cooling system, and I can see drips dropping from the bottom of the wheel arch, just before the front driver (UK) wheel.
Pics/video:



Is there a common place where this leak could be coming from? Can't see anything from the top side, but it looks like it's right under the coolant expansion tank, which I'll remove tomorrow to get a better look.

Also noticed this very slight leak coming from the throttle housing:


Any common issues to look out for?
Thanks

 

[kermit_rr]

There's a small tube goes to the bottom that can crack if you're rough with it. Or it could Just be one of the hose joints leaking

 

[FEI]

The bottom of the throttle body where the coolant runs through is held on by 3 tiny bolts, if the seiling surface is not perfect or if these bolts get over thightened or if the gasket gets old it will leak. Clean it properly, flatten and clean the little plates sealing surface with some sand paper on a piece of glass or granite counter top. Refit with a new gasket or some gasket maker and do not over tighten the bolts.

The coolant bottle leak could be the overflow from the cap but more probably like @kermit_rr said its one of the two hoses that have a crack, the one runs to the throttle heater the other to the top of the radiator.

 

[Grrrrrr]

Evening,

Noticed my 4.6 has been losing some coolant recently.
Pressurised the cooling system, and I can see drips dropping from the bottom of the wheel arch, just before the front driver (UK) wheel.
Pics/video:

View attachment 344550

Is there a common place where this leak could be coming from? Can't see anything from the top side, but it looks like it's right under the coolant expansion tank, which I'll remove tomorrow to get a better look.

Also noticed this very slight leak coming from the throttle housing:
View attachment 344551

Any common issues to look out for?
Thanks

Pressurise enough and it will blow coolant out the overflow which goes to the side and then underneath and then drips down the wing.

 

[kermit_rr]

Pressurise enough and it will blow coolant out the overflow which goes to the side and then underneath and then drips down the wing.

A pressure tester usually won't allow bypass like that. Assuming that's what's meant by pressurising the system

 

[blue_cheese]

I pressurised it using a tester up to ~15 psi, and didn't see any coolant coming from the top of the expansion tank, so I don't think it's leaking from the overflow

I was going to have another look this morning, but the weather has decided that I'll be spending the day indoors. No point looking for puddles when the ground is already soaking.

 

[pwood999]

Do the pressure check with the engine up to normal temp & switched off. Make sure you check all the hose joints & around any gasket that hold coolant. Also get underneath & shine a torch up at the core plugs (they rust & leak eventually).

 

[blue_cheese]

Had a look this afternoon, the drips are coming from somewhere in-between the front wing:

 

[blue_cheese]

Ah...that might do it

 

[Datatek]

Ah...that might do it

View attachment 344631

Heater O rings

 

[Mark Piercy]

Now there's a job for you

 

[blue_cheese]

Is that more or less work than replacing both the cylinder head gaskets....because that took me a month

 

[Mark Piercy]

It's less work just fiddly. We've done both of our 38's a few year ago

 

[blue_cheese]

Any recommended threads/guides?

Found a dash removal guide on paulp38a.com, looks like a lot of fun

 

[Datatek]

Any recommended threads/guides?

Found a dash removal guide on paulp38a.com, looks like a lot of fun

No need to remove the dash. A long screwdriver and one duct to cut, easy peesy. as long as the screw is not corroded in. Use a S/S socket head screw when putting it back and a smear of silicone grease on the O rings.

 

[P38Seb]

Think it took me about 3 hours to replace the o-rings by using come creative cutting and a lot of swearing. Still a pig of a job but not the worst.

 

[blue_cheese]

No need to remove the dash. A long screwdriver and one duct to cut, easy peesy. as long as the screw is not corroded in. Use a S/S socket head screw when putting it back and a smear of silicone grease on the O rings.

Do you have any links to a full guide for this method?

 

[Rubberknees]

Do you have any links to a full guide for this method?

Try Youtube sure there's a couple of videos