JX Coolant leak - advice please

[RogerT]

Hi Folks
While doing something else to the engine, I noticed a small puddle of coolant on the engine, and the coolant level on the top up tank has gone down significantly over the last 20 miles.

It looks like the coolant is leaking from the large coolant flange area - see picture below for the bit I mean. Can't actually see the leak in a photo, too hard to photograph. The puddle is the greenish area to the right of the photo. When i squeeze a coolant pipe, I can see coolant seeping out, seems to be from the base of the flange but it is really hard to tell in that position. Could be from the end of a pipe where it joins the flange, but as I said it looks more like the base of the flange where it is bolted to the cylinder head.

Rather than spend money at the garage, I'd prefer to fix myself. It being a JX tho, Haynes is useless.

I'm guessing it take off the hoses and electrical bits off the flange, check them and replace if necessary. Then unbolt the flange and check that and the ?gasket?, and the part of the head it bolts to. Replace bits as necessary, reassemble, refill and bleed.

What are the likely pitfalls for a novice who has studiously avoided doing anything like this to an engine? Anything in particular about replacing the gasket (tho I notice the flange on brickwerks says it comes with an O-ring - is that for the flange/head interface rather than a gasket?)

Any advice gratefully received.
Roger

[syncroandy]

It probably just needs a new flange and o-ring, easy enough job to do. They tend to warp or crack. If the hoses are held on with spring clips the proper pincers for those helps. You won't lose that much coolant, just catch it in a baisin or whatever. Put it back afterwards if its clean enough ! Replace the o-rings for the 20mm temp senders too.

E D I T. I was joking about putting it back, use fresh.

[RogerT]

Thanks for the reply, that gives me the confidence to crack on. I'll probably fit an auxiliary water pump too, if I can get my head round the wiring diagram! (See other thread, pump missing) Though I guess I can fit the pump and worry about the wiring later... Just have a non functioning pump in the meantime.


Cheers
Roger

[RogerT]

Removed the flange, haven't had a good look at it yet, but hadn't realised it was made of plastic. I see there are alloy ones available as well, but they seem to require screw in senders.

The flange and the senders seem to be fitted with some kind of sealant as well as the O-ring. Is this usual? If so what kind of sealant? Can anyone advise?

[sciroccotune]

No sealant normally just good o rings. The metal ones are no better really just get a new plastic one for brickwrks and it will be fine for years to come

[RogerT]

Many thanks, have a new flange from BW sitting on the shelf, and o-rings for the senders. Also got a secondhand aux. water pump, and will fit both in due course. Not just yet tho as van currently has its rear in the air as I'm starting to do its rear wheel bearings (following the plentiful advice on here of course). And I need to refit my LDA too after its repair is finished.