The photo shows the plumbing between the cylinder banks. The left gray stuff (one bolt showing) going off the left of the picture is the one of the motor mounts (I think). There is a small horizontal highlight (glint), center, lower half of photo. That is a little pool of coolant. I wonder if anyone has an idea where the leak could be. (The last time I did any serious auto-mechanic(k)ing was on a 1966 Alfa Romeo Giula Sprint Veloce. Just about everything was viewable/accessible then. No more.) Is this going to be a high labor issue?

I have someone to fix this thing, but I am doing some scouting first and I need to top up the coolant - way below the add level. Are there any cautions if I match the color of the existing coolant until I do get it fixed and replace all the coolant?

TIA

Stephen

 

How much coolant are we talking about and are you sure it is coolant? Looks pretty clear, not green. I would get the engine up to normal operating temperature and then open the hood (dry everything as best you can first) and then look and listen to hear or see if it is leaking from someplace. Might be something as simple as a small hole in a hose or something as big as a blown head gasket. More investigation needed.

 

Stephen, I would look at the coolant hose that runs under the throttlebody. It is very possible that has developed a small leak and that would allow coolant to flow over to where you are talking about. But, like was mentioned, try to get rid of as much of the coolant as possible (using some compressed air will be best) and then start up the car and let it idle for a few minutes and then see where the coolant is starting to form. That will help narrow down where the leak is most likely from.

 

OK Blew out the coolant, idled the engine, looked for a leak. I cannot actually see a leak. I can see where, at the highest point, the wetness appears after a 30-60 seconds. The photo does show the wet spot, underneath the silver metalic tubing, between the plastic (sensor?) modules. As best as I can see the wetness is on some black plastic part somehow attached to the cast aluminum part at the top of the photo. I hope this is clear enough.

It will take me some time to get the car to the shop. In the meantime I have to top up the coolant - periodically. Presently, the coolant is about 1 1/2" below the MIN line! What can I use? The existing coolant is orange, orange-red. (I see elsewhere that the coolant is color coded?) I assume that the coolant will be completely replaced when the leak is fixed.

TIA

Stephen

 

Photo did not post?

 

There is an O-ring in that area that leaks...there is one single 8mm bolt that holds a tube to the cast AL portion. I would start looking there.

 

Jagtec is right about the o-ring. I have recently done a rebuild and in that area there are two necks. Upper an lower. The top goes to the radiator and the bottom runs under the intake to the water pump. Its either of those. Just an FYI...the bottom is a SOB to take off.

There is a total of 4 o-rings if i remember right. 1 goes into the block, 1 on the aluminum lower pipe that presses into the lower neck and then goes to the water pump. 1 goes into the head facing you, 1 off the upper neck on the aluminum pipe that presses into the neck then goes to the radiator. Hope you follow, cuz pics would work best but hey, lol.

What i see from the pics, id guess its the upper neck that presses into the head. But if you tear into it, you should reveal a better look.

Here is the link to the FAQ about engine rebuild from a member that did an awesome write up. You can look at the pics and get an idea of what your working with. Shows you the 2 necks and where the lower one is.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...engine+removal

 

$318.20 later, enriching my local Jag/LandRover dealer, I am leak free - I hope for the life of the car. The cost was less than I feared - you can hear a (partial) sigh of relief.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

Stephen

 

Well....what was it that was leaking?

 

Why do you have to scout around? The o-ring on the bypass pipe is leaking. Maybe even the o-rings on the pipes below that, but the bypass pipe o-ring is leaking for sure. A new o-ring and some seal glide and your good to go. You could do it yourself.

 

Sorry for the lack of info - temporarily lost the service slip:

Parts replaced:
(1) Seal water outl
(1) Ring-sealing
(1) O ring
Antifreeze
2 hours labor

I picked up the car after hours and could not get a more complete description. Earlier in my life I would have tried to fix it myself, but now I try to let the "experts" (or at least the more experience mechanics) do it for me. That, plus a chronically objectioning back...

Thanks again

Stephen