Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Small coolant leak from radiator - Roadster.

I'm really struggling with this Dave. My original drip came from the bottom join under the thermostat housing as in the picture earlier in this thread. But now it's dripping from the upper join - probably always did. I put it on stands yesterday and laid underneath with a torch until a drip occurred - after about five minutes........
That thermostat housing is mission impossible to get at. The upper Jubilee was loose, but wouldn't tighten so I had to replace it, after applying some grease in the join. It was a pig to get off, and the replacement took a long time to get started.
After running to full temp, it's dry, but I'm not hopeful yet. This is a temperature related problem. Clearly the temp differential from zero degrees cold to 90degrees hot is causing so much expansion that it's compromising the joint. It wasn't a problem last year when the temp rarely dipped to zero in the garage. I may live with it for now if I can't fix it, simply because to strip out the thermostat housing to make a proper job of it will take a lot of time and effort.
Tonight I'll know if this latest fix has worked, but I'm doubtful.
Frank - if your Jag has this engine - does it have a remote thermostat housing? and does it have a short stubby hose below? I'll check the Mondeo manual to see what the set up is because that hose will probably be Ford, and I'd like to get one in stock.
Note that the thermostat takes ages to open in this weather.

Better news tonight. I'm a tad more optimistic. The level has held over the last 24 hours, and the newspaper underneath only has two small specs of damp. The orange triangle is set halfway between Min & Max, and I strongly recommend that you mark your expansion tank to show a specific marker against which to measure. This is lens repair tape from Halfords.


This photo shows just how tight the access is to that hose when the washer bottle is in place.


Looking down from above - which shows the thermostat housing hard up against the bulkhead:


And this photo is taken from underneath looking vertically upwards. That's the water pump pulley and the visible Jubilee clip is the lower one on the tricky hose. The metal pipe curving to the left is the one which goes under the nearside exhaust manifold, and it was from this pipe that my water drips first started.

Dave,
The point about the 'tell-tale' sticker is well made.
On my 4/4 I replaced the original expansion tank ( off a Land Rover as I recall) with one of Peter Mulberry's alloy creations.

The immediate problem I had was to work out what was the optimum fill level. Eventually, I did it via a rough calculation based on the horizontal run between the radiator and the header tank.
I then went out for a few runs to establish some very basic empirical results. These worked so, like you, the Halfords tape then came into service without delay!

regards,
G

Dave
It looks like you are winning, well done.
I was hoping for an improvement in the weather to continue my investigation. The paper was dry this morning and I am assuming the previous puddle was the result of my run out and the subsequent cooling and contraction exposing the leak.
Your pictures are very helpful, its a maze in there.

Dave

The drip returned.. I think exactly the same joint as yours, stains on the paper and wet to touch.



Gave as many jubilee clips as could be got to, at least a full turn, as you suggested.
Road too wet and salty for a trial, although I am still unsure of the sweet smell detected when engine was warm, this leak did not look in contact with a hot exhaust

I checked tonight Dave and my level is holding up.
Well done on your Jubilees. We'll get this beaten eventually!!!!!

Four inches of snow outside here now , but I managed to get to work - (3 pairs of socks plus wellingtons......)
Trains were on time both ways.................
Cleared the drive but it's covered again.

Bl**dy hell- now that IS impressive!

G

My drip has ceased although here in North Down the big freeze continues, so no practical test as yet. I work from home so no public transport to wressle with, just a bout of cabin fever.
Throughout this exchange of information I have noticed how much cleaner your engine bay is than mine. Therefore it has become a New Years Resolution " My hoses and metalwork must look like Dave W's during 2010"

You think it is bad in the soft north. Here is sunny Bucks we have a full 10 inches. It hasn't stopped all day though I enjoyed the lunch time break for cross country skiing.

This was fun when 25 yrs ago we lived in S Bavaria & had all the kit like winter tyres plus the Audi Quattro, but it is bloody silly when I have now the Mercedes with fat low profile skid a lot summer tyres.

If this is global warming I think it is in reverse!
(Yes I know it is the argument about us being the same latitude as labrador & the gulf stream but I blame number 10).

We had the merest hint of snow today and although I expected the worst, the journey both ways was easy. Best of all was that at Meadowhall (Shopping Centre) where the train home usually fills up with "shoppers" expecting a seat on a rush hour train (don't get me started), only one person got on.........
Plus the train was half empty. Two people from my 'village' didn't turn in to work today because they "couldn't get their cars out". There are three trains an hour to Sheffield from here............

Dave - I don't know why my underbonnet tackle is so clean. While it's true that I use a damp cloth occasionally, I haven't made a special effort in a 'polish everything' sense.