headgasket blown? advise need, please...

[adamandy]

Hello, for last three days I need to top up coolant 2 litres per day, and today just found that when engined running for some time, a steam is coming from the point indicated by RED ARROW on the photo below, is that head gasket blown? I have added K-seal but no help. Please advise! Thanks!

[FredTransit]

That's a core plug. May be it needs replacing.

[adamandy]

Thanks... Can I do it myself? or may be I can just dry it and put something like quickstill on top? Or pressure is too high and any epoxy will be blown away?

That's a core plug. May be it needs replacing.

[MrMPuk]

Just knock the core plug out and out a new one in with a bit of Hylormar on it.

[adamandy]

Drove few more miles around (2.4 litres of coolant gone in 20 mins), and steaming, looked again with proper torch, looks steam was going from somewhere underneath, could it be bottom gasket (if such exist)?

Also, anyone can advise how much would cost to change bottom gasket in an average garage? thanx!

Just knock the core plug out and out a new one in with a bit of Hylormar on it.

[MrMPuk]

No gaskets just change the core plug.

[jamieo]

Core plugs are easy to change and are very cheap.

EDIT: The last core plug that I changed was on a capri about 8 years ago and it only cost 47p from a ford dealers.

[adamandy]

Cool, I would try (already found some core plugs ebay)...

Stupid question -- how do I knock old plugs out, Haynes manual has no info whatsoever

Can I do from outside? or shall I disassemble something?

Core plugs are easy to change and are very cheap.

EDIT: The last core plug that I changed was on a capri about 8 years ago and it only cost 47p from a ford dealers.

[MrMPuk]

You can get the core plugs out by deforming them with a screw driver, then knock the new one in with an appropiate sized socket. Looks like you will need to take the manifold off to do this though.

[Nighthawk]

are you sure thats where the leak is?

the water pipe can get a tiny hole in it and put a fine spray onto the exhaust manifold, that'll evaporate and make it look steamy in the area without soaking things.

[gardener68]

are you sure thats where the leak is?

the water pipe can get a tiny hole in it and put a fine spray onto the exhaust manifold, that'll evaporate and make it look steamy in the area without soaking things.

the pipe on my van got a hole where it goes round the back of the rocker cover.
real tricky to suss out because the water leaked out and ran back along the head gasket joint to the front of engine and made steam everywhere.

smear some grease or similar round the coreplug and if it gets blown away then thats where the leak is.

[adamandy]

No, am not sure that namely core plugs are leaking, good idea about the grease, I will try tomorrow morning!!! Thanks!

are you sure thats where the leak is?

the water pipe can get a tiny hole in it and put a fine spray onto the exhaust manifold, that'll evaporate and make it look steamy in the area without soaking things.

the pipe on my van got a hole where it goes round the back of the rocker cover.
real tricky to suss out because the water leaked out and ran back along the head gasket joint to the front of engine and made steam everywhere.

smear some grease or similar round the coreplug and if it gets blown away then thats where the leak is.

[motorwise]

are you sure thats where the leak is?

the water pipe can get a tiny hole in it and put a fine spray onto the exhaust manifold, that'll evaporate and make it look steamy in the area without soaking things.

I agree, the stains are clearly on top of the manifold and the core plug doesn't look corroded at all - check the heater hose above it thouroughly

[adamandy]

Will do when sun rise, cause drained batteries on all my torches looking for hole... All hoses seem to be dry, just mystical leak... Will report tomorrow, if find the hole...

* * *

BTW, good info about installing plugs
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/09 ... oPages.htm

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are you sure thats where the leak is?

the water pipe can get a tiny hole in it and put a fine spray onto the exhaust manifold, that'll evaporate and make it look steamy in the area without soaking things.

I agree, the stains are clearly on top of the manifold and the core plug doesn't look corroded at all - check the heater hose above it thouroughly

[adamandy]

Many thanks, everyone! found leak this morning, it was a hole in heater return hose but just on the corner, when hose turn right, see pic of the bandaged place (red arrow).



thanks for your help!

are you sure thats where the leak is?

the water pipe can get a tiny hole in it and put a fine spray onto the exhaust manifold, that'll evaporate and make it look steamy in the area without soaking things.

I agree, the stains are clearly on top of the manifold and the core plug doesn't look corroded at all - check the heater hose above it thouroughly