Club 80-90 Forums

Hope you guys can help solve a mystery for me. We're moving house this weekend and need the van for the move.

The temp light has just started flashing when engine is hot - but needle sits just under the middle. For a while there's been a small drip coming down the end of the right hand side rocker cover. I've been keeping my eye on it - but now it's turned into a bad leak when the engine is running. I'm assuming it's coolant (although I'm now starting to think it could be oil!). There also appears to be water pooling on the top of the engine block itself on the right hand side.

I can't see an obvious coolant leak at all. Nothing from the junction pipe or above. Coolant levels are okay, but I did have to put coolant in the top up tank last week. ~It was down to minimum. Oil level is in the middle. Oil change and filter done last month.

Also just went out again to have another look and it wouldn't start. Turns over, but won't start up. Need to check there's enough petrol in it first - although I can't hear the fuel pump priming. This may be something else. Last thing I need!!

Perhaps a cylinder head leak?? Water jacket seals??

h-h-h-h-e-e-e-l-l-l-p-p-p-P-P-P!

With respect you should be able to tell the difference between coolant and oil, taste It!

Lack of oil or coolant won't stop It from starting but having fuel In the tank Is quite vital, low coolant will make the red light flash however, so there's a couple of things to be going on with.

Fuel pump is mechanical so just works when the engine is turned over so no 'priming' sounds as such, unless some kind of electrical replacement has been fitted.

Once your confident all your levels are ok then start with the obvious, fuel to the carb, spark etc.

Yes - cheers. Definitely coolant. The fuel pump is electrical on my van, but it is starting now. Coolant sitting on the top of the block is dripping onto the spark plugs

Just got my tools out from packing, so I'll get the tin wear off and have a better look. I'm pretty sure it's the water jacket seal now. Bugger!

99 per cent sure it is the water jacket seal. When I mop up the coolant on top of the block it fills up immediately. There's nothing else there which could cause coolant to gather.

So, the question must be - is this an engine out job??

It just makes things so much easier if the Engine Is out, compared with changing the seals themselves taking the Engine out Is the easy bit.

Cheers Shepster. Just wondering whether I have the courage to do this myself or not?! Exhaust bolts will come off easily because they're fairly new. Would be great to refurbish the whole engine. I'll do another search on engine rebuilds.

ronsrecord wrote:I'm assuming it's coolant (although I'm now starting to think it could be oil!)

ronsrecord wrote:Just wondering whether I have the courage to do this myself or not?! Would be great to refurbish the whole engine

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Yes you're probably right John!

The reason I had doubts was the coolant was quite oily. Only way to learn sometimes is to get stuck in!

I do wish I'd think before I open my mouth sometimes though!

Hey we've all been there

it feels oily because it's a corrosion inhibitor.. first and formost

See - that's brilliant! That's the kind of stuff one needs to know. Thanks Kev.

If its not an ancient engine (ie its been apart or stripped in recent years) then a strip down shouldn't be too bad once started. Its when you're dealing with something that hasn't been touched in many years that you get issues with seized studs and the like. Could help but I'm back at work so I'll be limited in the hours I have to assist.

Thanks Ralph - think I'm going to have a go after looking at the other threads on engine rebuilds. Nothing to lose! Will have a chat with you later. Everything's a bit up in the air with house moving!! Help moving the van, and getting the engine out at some point would be great.



Hope you had a good holiday!

Yep ten days cruising the wild areas of Wales with Hakuna Matata. Great hol and only one night spent on a paid camp site. Bobster joined us for a day or two as well. Lot of fun. Very tanned I can tell you that. Will roll up my sleeves brother - you know me.