Coolant leak from heads

[jswagger]

Hi,

Whilst fitting to my 1.9DG, a replacement oil pressure sensor on the passenger side bank today I noticed a drip of water/coolant from the rubber seal on the heads (whilst the engine was cold). Once I had warmed the engine up I could not see any coolant leaking so does warming the engine up close the leaks?

Any tips on what to do? If I leave it surely it will just go bang at some point, perhaps also causing further damage. However I also know not to touch the engine due to crumbling head bolts etc!!

Thanks in advance

[jed the spread]

The head bolts have to come off to change the leaking water jacket, Sorry mate. Some people pop K-seal to squeeze another few thousand out of them, have a look on the wiki, top of page second from the left. https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Pe ... _head_leak

jed

[kevtherev]

Crumbling head studs are not that common after the changes in '86
plus if the nuts are cracked and removed with heat, there won't be a problem.
Don't worry yourself with tales of woe.

All that's happened is the mating surfaces on the head and water jacket have become so pitted that the rubber seal can't do it's job.
It does not mean the studs are about to break.
Jeds suggestion is a sound option.
A coolant change every 2 years should slow down any further pitting

[jswagger]

Thanks for the replies.


I note from the wiki that cold weather makes it worse. I will see if it gets any better when the weather warms up otherwise it's a bottle of seal.

[fairwynds]

Just a thought.... I have a 1900DG, and in sorting my starter motor out over last few days, I saw (and tasted!) coolant on the drivers side seal too. However, upon investigation it was found to be a slight leak from one of the (many) hose connections above the engine block, and the coolant was tracking down and along the rubber head seal, as its the lowest part. Not sure the engine contours are same both sides, but......just in case..?
My leak was traced to a joint that had been disturbed when I had the LPG fitted, nipped it up 1/4 turn an Bob's your Dads brother!

[Ian Hulley]

Could also be from the head drain screw, trouble is just about any leak runs down into the tube guards and then along the jacket seals.

Ian

[jswagger]

Thanks for all the rpelies.

As it happens I do need to change a hose so will keep an eye out as to whether the dripping stops. Fingers crossed!