Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Plus 8 Coolant leak

I’ve a weeping gasket between the timing cover and engine block, at the top, it only weeps after the engine cools down. Do I have to replace the gasket or can I use a rad sealant like Barrs?
Appreciate everyones comments.
Dave
98 +8

The (former) professional in me would always advise changing the gasket...... however, if it were mine I would try an additive first but would council you use
K-Seal as it’s the best there is on the market.

And I know of at least one race preparation shop that use it in every vehicle they prepare as part of their process!

BR
Colin (people often don’t believe me but I know for a fact that at one time (late 70’s) a Jaguar Service Bulletin advised its U.K. dealers to use a slug of Barr’s Leak in every major service on the V12 cars)

When touring I ever carried a couple of little white sachets of CE-LIT in the spares, and given it`s the package dimensions it s was easy to find space for it, though never used it in anger thus can nor recommend it as such.

https://www.bhl.co.uk/ce-lit-sachet-display-card.html

It seems as if you have been pretty thorough in trying to identify the leak, though timing cover and water..hmm..? I suspect you are thinking water pump gasket and nothing related to the timing cover other that the appearance of water or staining..?

Mine is an older +8 though it has a weep hole on the underside of the water pump, which is an indicator as to the effectivness of the water pump shaft seal condition, and may just be expected to weep on occasion, perhaps more so after lay-up..? Though if it begins to leak as opposed to weep, that can show up as water marking on the fan belt and even be thrown up on to the underside of the bonnet while the engine is running.

Perhaps you can squeeze a mirror into the area to have a look for the weep hole...?

Good luck.

The timing cover on the Rover V8 has waterways cast in to it that go between the block and the water pump....

Simon @ SiFab.co.uk

THANKS for the heads up on the timing cover gallery Simon, Sorry I had forgotten all about that... along with many other things..Duh !

Thanks for the tip I ordered the K Seal should be here tomorrow.

+1 for K seal, brilliant stuff......

Certainly is, even the AA and RAC lads carry it in the van

Following your suggestion Amazon quickly delivered the K-Seal. Proceeded to follow the online instructions and hey presto the leaking gasket is no more.
Once the snow, ice and salt is gone I’ll go for a test drive.
So far so good.
Thanks all for your advice and comments.

Glad to read this Dave.

BR
Colin (reminding myself to order another bottle for my spares kit as I used my last one on a friends car ;-))