Water leak

davewithington · Post by **davewithington** » 12 Jan 2010, 15:28

When I bought the Xantia, it had a small water leak, we did 750 miles over Christmas (went to IKEA twice!!!!) without having to top up.

Over the weekend, the leak seems to be worse, and over the last 2 days I've poured 15 ltrs of fluid in, 2x 5ltrs of mixed coolant, but plain water only today.

Can't see anything coming out, so either it's a pressure only leak, or it's coming out of the exhaust, i.e. head gasket. could be waterpump I suppose, don't think it's heater related as there doesn't seem to be water inside.

We'll see. Going in to my local specialist tomorrow as I'm too old and stiff to work on cars in the snow these days.

I'll keep you posted

Chlorate · Post by **Chlorate** » 12 Jan 2010, 15:50

May just be a leak though...

If the Xantia in question is the 1.9TD then it'd be unlikely that coolant would disappear through the exhaust due to a HG failure, it's more of a thing in petrol engines. Since the silly-high pressure inside the cylinder is more likely to force exhaust into the coolant. Which does lead to rapid loss of coolant through pressure in the system.

Although, I guess with the existing leak in the coolant there'd be enough of a pressure release for it to not be apparent, i.e. so you don't get a fountain of hot coolant when you take the rad cap off. Indeed when my ZX was on it's final legs, I had to unscrew one of the bleed points a little way so the coolant system worked *a little bit* and didn't explode at me when I finally got to where I wanted to be.

I hope it's worth rescuing and fingers crossed that it isn't the head gasket.

davewithington · Post by **davewithington** » 13 Jan 2010, 08:56

Probably isn't the head gasket, as I had a look last night on returning home, and I could see water running down the bulkhead and dripping off.
I used to run an Alvis TD21 many years ago, and the head gasket went on that, at 104,000 miles which was stellar mileage in the late sixties. As fast as I poured water into the radiator, it came out of the left hand exhaust!

I always try to imagine the worst possible fault, so I can be pleasantly surprised when it's something simple. Unfortunately this does lead me up the garden path sometimes. I can spend a whole day hunting for a solution to something quite easy and logical, and quite often it's my fault.

In my defence I'm a parts man, not a mechanic!

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 13 Jan 2010, 09:15

as Chlorate says if it is the head gasket/cracked head these engines usualy presurise the coolant system,

i have seen a F**D MONDAY O which the mechanic checking it out was pouring water in one end, and it was comming out the other end just as fast,

when the head was finaly lifted off it had been eaten away in a big way all around the valve seats, this was a diesel ,

one thing to try is crank it over with the header tank cap off with the engine stone cold, if coolant gushes out its definetly head gasket,

regards malcolm

Post by **Peter.N.** » 13 Jan 2010, 10:00

Head gasket leakage on an XUD engine usually results in water being blown out of the overflow or header tank filler cap, so you don't see it. Leave a recepticle under the end of the overflow pipe while you are driving and check it when you stop, also look for signs of antifreeze around the filler and tank. The mileage is largely the determining factor and how much antifreeze has bee kept in it, 150,000 miles is about the optimum.

Peter

xantiasmiff · Post by **xantiasmiff** » 13 Jan 2010, 10:20

I had a bad water leak on my 2.0 hdi xantia. Different engine i know, but turned out to be a core plug which was nicely hidden behind numerous pipes and wiring.I too was thinking water pump etc. Have a good look with a torch whilst engine is running.

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 13 Jan 2010, 12:17

water running down the bulkhead

Usually from the passenger’s side heater inlet.

davewithington · Post by **davewithington** » 13 Jan 2010, 19:52

Took the car in tonight.

Apparently there is a plastic water manifold bolted to the water pump behind the engine block - so it can't be seen from the front or top. This cracks over time, and dislodges its seal. Access is easiest through the right hand wheelarch after taking off the drive shaft. Glad he's doing it not me in this weather.

Should have it back Friday,but maybe next week, as the garage has cars everywhere, something to do with the time of year?

Chlorate · Post by **Chlorate** » 13 Jan 2010, 20:24

Probably frozen radiators and bent suspension all around.
Good to hear that it wasn't anything serious

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 13 Jan 2010, 20:33

Dave

ITS NOT BOLTED to the water pump!!

Its simply bolted to the Block!!!! It looks like its on the pump but its NOT!

Jeeess, talk about MAKING work to charge the customer! He's having a laugh, theres NO need to even to even remove the drive shaft!!

Wish you lived closer Dave! I HATE these bloody conning garages! I know, you cant get away from them though!

Ive broken a few of these, but thats all!

Paul

Xantidote · Post by **Xantidote** » 13 Jan 2010, 23:04

The plastic water manifold - is it a common failure item? Is it's life age related?

Not seen any reference to this elsewhere on the Forum

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 14 Jan 2010, 07:55

No not really! Its just bad luck I think.. I broken mine when removing engines from cars!

Paul

davewithington · Post by **davewithington** » 14 Jan 2010, 09:45

I'm not particularly bothered Paul, the job will get done, I need the car fixed before next week, and as I'm still on a learning curve and it's cold and my knees are playing up he can do the job.

Richard is better than most I've met, and I was on parts for 20years, and I've been a service receptionist on trucks as well. The tales I could tell.

Reason I left the truck business was the lies, chicanery and downright fraud I was supposed to serve up to the customers. NHS is a lot better. In some respects.

When I've built my new workshop........

addo · Post by **addo** » 14 Jan 2010, 10:17

I've had the plastic water fanimold break on a 405 16 valver. A combination of age and abuse saw one of the smaller spigots crumble. New part (and new O-ring) was cheap enough by Oz standards - and a right fiddle, barely two weeks after replacing the driveshafts!

Regards, Adam.

davewithington · Post by **davewithington** » 14 Jan 2010, 10:44

I'm going to have to put the 2CV back on the road - air cooling is much simpler.

Oh, what's a fanimold?