Club 80-90 Forums

Hi Guys,

Bought my camper because I love em and I wanted to teach my self a bit of mechanics ...

So i came home from a short drive just now (2-3 miles). Looked down at the back ov the van to see a yellowy liquid dripping from it. The liquid is not viscouse atall and has little of no distinguishable smell. See if you can work out the issue from the attached pictures please because i know you all love a challenge

Thanks guys

Rob

BertieWells wrote:Hi Guys,

Bought my camper because I love em and I wanted to teach my self a bit of mechanics ...

So i came home from a short drive just now (2-3 miles). Looked down at the back ov the van to see a yellowy liquid dripping from it. The liquid is not viscouse atall and has little of no distinguishable smell. See if you can work out the issue from the attached pictures please because i know you all love a challenge

Thanks guys

Rob

Coolant.
...and it should be pink.. with a smell
oh dear.
That's rusty water.
The rust is from inside your engine

Thanks for the quick reply!

This dosent sound too dandy, what would my next steps be pro tem before i think about fitting a new engine?

BertieWells wrote:Thanks for the quick reply!

This dosent sound too dandy, what would my next steps be ?

Fix the leak!

new engine?
What the blithering heck it's just a leak and a coolant change.

BertieWells wrote: a yellowy liquid dripping from it

Someone had a p1ss up the back of your van?

Probably more likely coolant as Kev says - as to what the problem is follow the water back to the source - split hose, water pump, head seals are all possibilities.

Good luck finding it and be wary of driving the van in the meantime as it will tend to overheat without the coolant inside!

Cheers,

Alex

kevtherev wrote:

BertieWells wrote: new engine?
What the blithering heck it's just a leak and a coolant change.

Ha ok thanks, the rust inside the engine kind of freaked me out!

Ill have a gander now and see if i can work anything out, where is the best place to start?

Thanks guys!!

I'd start by putting on my old clothes or overalls and crawling underneath to see what I can see - right under the back of the engine. I'd take a torch and a roll of cloth, so I could see better and to wipe off grunge. I'd be focusing on all the bits that hold the coolant - rubber pipes, metal pipes, water pump, water jacket etc

I'd then repeat from the top of the engine bay looking down.

If there is a hole in a pipe/leaky joint etc then great, there's the cause. However, if there is no obvious water I'd then check there was still water in the header tank then run the engine and repeat, minding my nose and any other projections (stomach / kneecaps) on the exhaust pipe when going under, and any loose garments when working from the top.

If there is still no obvious leak, I'd get an assistant to give it some revs and repeat again.

Report back what you find!!

Cheers,

Alex

Ok so im having a look and frm what i can see all the pipes are looking ok. From where the water is dripping it looks to be something to do with the pump. The water in the header tank has well and truely drained away so im thinking i should fill it back up and then run the engine see if that makes anything obvious?

Yep, fill it up as if there is no water in the system you won't have a leak!

If its the waterpump seal then chances are it will leak worst when running so fill it with water and have a look with it running.

Cheers,

Alex

Might even be one of the pipes that attach to the pump!
The one behind the pulley wheel is a suspect.

I see you have the early water cooled system
All the best of luck if you have to change the pump.
We can talk you through it, but you'll need a weekend.

Best thing i ever did is join 80-90 Cheers guys!

I had to run off to work last night (literally ). Before i left i filled up with water and started the engine, it was comming out fast. I didnt check before i started the engine so will try that as soon as i get out of bed.

After that i will probably have the pully off and try and get a better look around the pump.

Ok so, i got out of bed and discovered ...

The water seems to leak at more or less the same speed with the engine on or off. (Nobody around to give it some revs).

Now hopefully you can see what i mean when you look at the attached photo. If you look at "the pipe in question" comming from the pump, i can not feel moisture on the way from the pump down. However i can feel moisture right at the bottom of this pipe behind the main pully. I cant feel it comming down the other side either so it has left me a little confused.

Not quite sure what i can do now?

Rob

Have a look at my thread 'tracing a water leak the 'blue roll way'! from jan 4 2013. Sorry, new ipad thing and no longer know how to attach links to previous threads! (any tips gratefully received)
I know I've deleted that image, but you will get the idea!
Good luck

Thats a cracking idea, I work at a super market so there is always plently lying around

I Will give this a go for sure. Thanking you very much

BertieWells wrote:Thats a cracking idea, I work at a super market so there is always plently lying around

I Will give this a go for sure. Thanking you very much

Welcome