Intermittent coolant leak

[TheFixer]

I'm getting an intermittent coolant leak. Very small. But when I do a pressure test of the system it checks ok.

It just happens on cold start ups.

Any ideas?

 

[SlowE93]

I'm getting an intermittent coolant leak. Very small. But when I do a pressure test of the system it checks ok.

It just happens on cold start ups.

Any ideas?

Oring ?
Can leak when cold and expand and seal when hot.
You will have to visually track this one down....or wait till it completely fails, then you will find it quick

 

[TheFixer]

Oring ?
Can leak when cold and expand and seal when hot.
You will have to visually track this one down....or wait till it completely fails, then you will find it quick

I'm thinking turbo coolant line based on I see no hoses leaking by the water pump or radiator.

I put some leak stop in to hold it over till I can work on finding it. Unless it holds.... which in that case I'll leave it alone.

 

[SlowE93]

I'm thinking turbo coolant line based on I see no hoses leaking by the water pump or radiator.

I put some leak stop in to hold it over till I can work on finding it. Unless it holds.... which in that case I'll leave it alone.

Take off the cover under the car and do cold start (if it continues to leak), to get an idea of where its coming from.

 

[TheFixer]

Take off the cover under the car and do cold start (if it continues to leak), to get an idea of where its coming from.

I never put my cover back on. Leak is mid back towards firewall

 

[SlowE93]

I never put my cover back on. Leak is mid back towards firewall

Ahhhhh....ok

 

[martymil]

lifted the dead ?, it leaks when cold and seals when hot, looks like turbo rear turbo is leaking but its actually the two rear smaller head bolts.

The puddle usually forms where you described.

 

[TheFixer]

lifted the dead ?, it leaks when cold and seals when hot, looks like turbo rear turbo is leaking but its actually the two rear smaller head bolts.

The puddle usually forms where you described.

This motor has never been apart. Leak is gone for now. I'll tackle it once I get the e46 back together. Hopefully not head bolts.

 

[martymil]

How much peak boost where you running like not rpm related peak but what was the highest anywhere ?

 

[TheFixer]

How much peak boost where you running like not rpm related peak but what was the highest anywhere ?

The most was maybe 19psi at short intervals. Most the time it's 15.

 

[martymil]

Its not the head then

 

[TheFixer]

Its not the head then

I think it's a turbo coolant line. I'll find it. Thought there might be others who experienced similar symptoms.

 

[martymil]

Yeah it looks like coolant line sometimes but it's the head seen it multiple times, really hope it's not

 

[SlowE93]

Psi would not necessarily dictate the actual reason a head could lift. IMO

 

[martymil]

True to much timing would do it or combination.of both

 

[fmorelli]

Yeah it looks like coolant line sometimes but it's the head seen it multiple times, really hope it's not

He's getting good at pulling heads ...

Filippo

 

[TheFixer]

He's getting good at pulling heads ...

Filippo

I'll just swap the whole motor instead.

 

[TheFixer]

So after putting the leak seal in yesterday morning I did some stress testing (hard driving) yesterday and today. That snake oil appears to be holding.

I used that blue devil brand stuff. (I had luck with their oil seal additives in my 300k mile truck and it actually worked.)

I pulled the stiffner off last night and used my endoscope from underneath. Dug around looking for coolant residue around the head, block, hoses and coolant lines. Can't find anything.

Wherever it came from was a tiny breach. So, until it returns I'm considering it resolved for now.