 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Coolant loss, could it be the cap? |
 
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20430  
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On closer inspection I can see some coolant drips above on the vacuum pump.
Looks like a seal to me, I'll have to try and get another photo. |
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25th Feb 2016 11:36am |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20430
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 Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Looking like a vacuum pump seal. I have some Radweld stuff but Gary @ Alive said don't use it so it's beyond my scope to repair so I guess it'll be a dealer job. Expansion tank has emptied from half level yesterday. (Half down from recommended) to neigh on empty. |
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25th Feb 2016 11:54am |
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| nickhodgson Member Since: 08 Dec 2009 Location: Zambia Posts: 174 
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You may have found the source of your leak.
But the caps are a problem in my opinion and the puma seems sensitive to them. I now test the cap with a cooling system tester and you would be surprised how many (even new ones) don't hold 15psi or leak slowly. I believe that if the cap does not hold the pressure then you will have some water boiling somewhere in the engine once it reaches 100 Degrees. Over time this boiling can lead to reduced heat extraction and blown head gasket. 1995 300tdi Defender 90 P/UP 2011 Puma Defender 130 D/C 2000 300tdi Defender 110 P/UP 2015 Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE |
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26th Feb 2016 6:45am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17432 
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I had a small leak from the water pump gland which caused the same slow coolant loss symptoms you are describing. There is a drain hole in the water pump body to allow water that seeps past the spindle seal to drain, and this is where it was emerging.
In the good old days waterpumps were servicable items and seals could be replaced, but now of course the whole pump has to be changed (I don't remember it as being catastophically expensive, though). There are two purchasing options for the TDCi pump, since the pump has a complicated plastic water manifold bolted to it, namely with the plastic manifold or without. I bought the one with, since I couldn't see where the leak was when the pump was on the vehicle. Needless to say, I actually didn't need the manifold! The pump and manifold when off the vehicle is a weird thing, it reminded me firstly of those pictures you see of the human heart and its associated plumbing, or of that weird building in Paris were all the service pipework is on the outside! That's modern engines for you! It isn't a particularly difficult job to change the pump, but access isn't great. |
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26th Feb 2016 9:21am |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20430
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IIRC the pump it's self is roughly £55 - £130 not too bad in the grand scheme of things.
This started just after Chritsmas when the cold weather hit. I'm aware of the egg trick if I need it as do I have a bottle of Radweld Plus. Neither of which I have used. I will ring the dealer today and see what is what and hopefully talk to someone knowledgable. In the mean time I hope they aren't over busy like last time, or it's probably going to get worse which it has gradually. To make things worse I do have to use it being the only vehicle, up till now I've just been adding more fluid but it is using more and more. The Radweld Plus stuff says it would suit this sort of thing and does not need flushing and has 5 stars reviews. Trouble is I don't know if I'd be doing right or wrong using it do I'm tending not too even though I especially bought it. Thank-you for the info BW, much appreciated. |
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26th Feb 2016 10:28am |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20430
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Well update on this.
Took the Radweld stuff back, won't be using that. Decided against it. Went to main dealer for a pressure test, £63. They diagnosed the Waterpump needs replacing as it appears to have a crack. Or so I gather at least, but this is the perpetrator of the leaking. At least I know the culprit for certain so that was worth it. £570.  Was the replacement quote.
I can't lay that much out at this moment in time, however, the water pump it's self. I thought Genuine they were around £130 but they aren't they are more like £200 - £230. Am I correct in thinking the OE manufacturer is Borg & Beck or am I barking up the wrong tree? There is some major difference in price between them and if an OE supplier is the exact same thing then £100 for a box? |
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3rd Mar 2016 10:10pm |
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