cossiegreg1

Right i'll start at the begining.
last sat i dropped the water out of the cossie and put in fresh anti-freeze and water.I then used the car for a hour or 2.
A couple of hours later i came back out to the car and drove a couple of miles up the road to drop my mate off.
I had been driving for approx 10-15 mins giving the car short blasts but not really thrashing it, when i noticed th temp gauge was on the red.

i turned the car off and checked under the bonnet.The header tank was bone dry.
The next day when i went to look at it i poured water in and it was coming out of /around water pump. and it is also leaking from the back of the engine.it is coming out quite fast.

I have tried to find out where it is leaking at the back but i cant see anything.i have checked all hoses. It is drippng off the sump nut underneath and is coming directly down the centre of the flywheel. When i look from the top i cant see any thing as the bellhousing is in the way.
im almost certain it is not coming from head or h/gasket because i would be able to see the water.
where can it be coming from thats on the block at the back?
do you think i have cracked the block?
if so would the water leak this quick especially as the engine isnt running.

what has caused this? why is the w/pump leaking?it is a new item.its done less than 2k.
im expecting my head will be fooked,although it has cometic h/gasket and arp stud &nut kit on,will this of helped it or not.
cheers if anyone can help. no stupid comments please as im sick enough as it is.
p.s im not sure how long it was on the red as it was the first time i looked.bearing in mind i was only on the road 10-15 min max

rapidcossie

back of the engine is a favourite place for the head gasket to go...


also could be the hoses coming from the heater matrix running to the modine oil cooler??

cossiegreg1

euan ive checked that hose and all the others. i can feel/see that there dont seem to be any water coming from back of head as its dry.bearing in mind im pouring the water in with engine off and its still pissing out.

tabetha

The most likely place is as said the pipes on the input/output of the heater.
Failing that have a look at the area above the rearmost core plug on the block driver side, as the area of headgasket above this is where they mostly go, especially on 2wd.
This is because they are a LOT hotter here and leaner as well, mine bust OUTWARDS through the headgasket here, I got a new core plug hoping it was that before I had a good look.
If it is pouring out when cold just leave a tap on slow to keep tank topped as you look around up on the ramps, but if this bad, will of course need doing asap.
Was it a metal gasket ?
tabetha

cossiegreg1

yeah its a metal cometic gasket i done 2k miles on it. im not drivin it at all cos the leak is to bad. would a head gasket leak with engine turned off? i can see round the back of the head and it feels dry, so im thinking its leaking from the block. but cant see where, cos bellhousing is in way.

cossiegreg1

i take it engine will have to come out for core plug?
why do you think this has happend? why is w/pump leaking too?

tabetha

You can do some core plugs easy with engine in, other are harder but possible, just.
You really need to get a mirror on a stick to see where it is coming from before you know what to do, it might be and idea to fill up then try to pressurise system a bit to see where it squirts from, can't see it being a head gasket with a leak this bad.
I am sure there is a core plug right in the centre of the head at the back, water pump may be leaking due to excess pressure when it over heated, I assume the leak is between shaft and seal ?
tabetha

AndyPen

iTrader: (24)

Hi - my last engine blew the big core plug from out the rear of the 205 block... it had just rotted away really and an overheat finished it off.

This one is under the bell housing so the box has to come out. We replaced it in situ and did a clutch job while we were there.

I have pics if you need them - sounds very much like the same situation - fingers crossed it aint.

Andy

cossiegreg1

cheers mate them pics would be very helpful. the engine has only got 2k on it. im cursed with this fookin car. cheers tabetha again, for your help mate.you can always rely on tabetha lol

tabetha

You can always rely on ALL the good people on here, hope it is something easy/cheap for you to fix.
tabetha

foreigneRS

i also suspect the core plug at the back of the block

my 2wd 'ring taxi had rotten core plugs when i got it - the result of neglect from previous owners to use antifreeze properly. they are pretty old now

if one is leaking, you can be sure that the rest are on their way as well, so you should replace them all - that is probably an engine out job really as the fanimolds are in the way iirc

tabetha

Roosie's head was rotten to the extent it needed welding, due to no antifreeze having been used, before he got it.
tabetha

cossiegreg1

would it be easier gettin another block? where can i get the new core plug from?

cossiegreg1

when i got the engine rebuilt the builder noticed the head had previously been welded.

AndyPen

iTrader: (24)

I got mine from Fords mate - no trouble. Did the others as Tab suggests.

This pic shows an engine out so its nice and clear - as you can see there's nothing at the back of the head - this one is normally under the gearbox housing out of sight ...



Hope it makes sense,

Andy

tabetha

When I got mine from fords, I think they were less than a £ each, but easily obtainable elsewhere too, pm if you have a prob and I'll pop some in the post for you.
tabetha

cossiegreg1

andy thats exactly where i think the leak is coming from.so must defo be the core plug cheers.
Tabetha cheers mate,i'll try my local ford dealers when i get back off my hol's. going to ibiza on tue. so not bothering with car til i get back.
how many core plugs is there in total?

tabetha

I think there are 5 ?, but NOT defo sure.
tabetha

AndyPen

iTrader: (24)

There are two more on the side that I did - can't find the pic but this shows their location under the manifold. The only difference will be that these are the smaller ones on an rs500 block - yours are bigger.

cossiegreg1

andy how did you get them out?

tabetha

There are two main ways to get them out, either push a old screwdriver etc through them, and lever them out or hit on one edge with a drift/hammer hard and they will come out.
tabetha

AndyPen

iTrader: (24)

As tab says - they are remarkably easy to get out - tapping on one side makes them swivel - have some good pliers to hand then pull them out sideways - preferably without dropping them inside!! The new ones just tap back in - I used a small circular wooden block that I had around - take your time and keep them squared up to the block

PS You can do the one at the back on its own and sort the others when the engine is next out if you wish. Box has to come off and flywheel too - then its not bad to get at from underneath.

tabetha

Just make sure you use sealant to put back in!!
tabetha