2003 4200cc coolant leak

[CatmanV2]

I’ve not done it but I think it’s quite involved as the drive is in the front timing cover.

I think @philw696 did his? Rather more than 'good' with spanners....

C

 

[Gp79]

Main problem to replace the leaky o-ring is timing cover off but that requires the crank pulley off and the bolt is silly tight with limited access.

Presume the easiest way to access is nose off the car and radiators removed?

 

[conaero]

400nm for the front crank nut you won’t be able to do it on a jack as the bar required is a meter long and you won’t have the clearance.

 

[Gp79]

Also low coolant temp is probably just the thermostat stuck open - take it when your stationary the temp increases to normal?
That’s not too bad to replace.

 

[Hughandjen]

Main problem to replace the leaky o-ring is timing cover off but that requires the crank pulley off and the bolt is silly tight with limited access.

Presume the easiest way to access is nose off the car and radiators removed?

I was going to take the front bumper assembly off soon anyway. So with that off and rad out I may be able to get torque on the nut?

 

[philw696]

I think @philw696 did his? Rather more than 'good' with spanners....

C

Yeah I changed the complete assembly on the 4200 I took to New Zealand.
It's a complex job but certainly doable on the floor with the car on stands and I used my engine crane to lift the motor up a little to give me some clearance.
The flickering oil pressure usually means the oil pump splines are rusted away.

 

[Hughandjen]

Also low coolant temp is probably just the thermostat stuck open - take it when your stationary the temp increases to normal?
That’s not too bad to replace.

It doesn’t seems to go above 1/4 when stationary or running. what are your thoughts on the flickering oil pressure gauge last week? It was like an electrical fault with the gauge as the needle was flickering. It occurred once when the engine was cool and latterly when hot. If it had anything to do with the shaft in the pumps surely it would not go up and down so quickly? Also no sign of water in the oil or oil in the water!

 

[Hughandjen]

Yeah I changed the complete assembly on the 4200 I took to New Zealand.
It's a complex job but certainly doable on the floor with the car on stands and I used my engine crane to lift the motor up a little to give me some clearance.
The flickering oil pressure usually means the oil pump splines are rusted away.

Thanks for that. The flickering gauge stopped a few days ago and I drove it 2 hours yesterday all with good oil pressure ie 5??
If the splines were gone it wouldn’t correct itself would it?
Thanks

 

[Gp79]

400nm for the front crank nut you won’t be able to do it on a jack as the bar required is a meter long and you won’t have the clearance.

How are you locking the crank to undo this bolt? As probably need the front cover off my project car due to oil leakage. Cheers

 

[philw696]

Thanks for that. The flickering gauge stopped a few days ago and I drove it 2 hours yesterday all with good oil pressure ie 5??
If the splines were gone it wouldn’t correct itself would it?
Thanks

The oil pressure sender unit is also another well known weak point.
As long as the engine sounds sweet it's most likely that.

 

[Gp79]

It doesn’t seems to go above 1/4 when stationary or running. what are your thoughts on the flickering oil pressure gauge last week? It was like an electrical fault with the gauge as the needle was flickering. It occurred once when the engine was cool and latterly when hot. If it had anything to do with the shaft in the pumps surely it would not go up and down so quickly? Also no sign of water in the oil or oil in the water!

Yes the oil / water pump is the worst case scenario.
The engine would be dead pretty quickly without oil pressure and would make some ‘odd’ noises before that!
As well as the oil pressure sensor I have heard of a poor engine earth being an issue before, solved by an additional being fitted.
For the coolant temp might be worth replacing the sensor next to the thermostat as well?

 

[Gp79]

I was going to take the front bumper assembly off soon anyway. So with that off and rad out I may be able to get torque on the nut?

If you’re doing that soon it’s not much more to get the rads out the way then get a decent impact gun on the bolt.
I borrowed a mates 1000Nm gun for a spare engine I stripped / rebuilt and it didn’t exactly fly off.

 

[Hughandjen]

The oil pressure sender unit is also another well known weak point.
As long as the engine sounds sweet it's most likely that.

Engine sounds and feels great

 

[RJ237]

Does the oil pressure drop to about 2 bar at idle with the engine warm, or does it stay at 5 bar? If it doesn't drop that indicates failed sender.

Thermostats often stick open or open too early when they need replacement.

 

[Hughandjen]

Does the oil pressure drop to about 2 bar at idle with the engine warm, or does it stay at 5 bar? If it doesn't drop that indicates failed sender.

Thermostats often stick open or open too early when they need replacement.

It drops a bit when warm maybe to 3 bar.

 

[Nibby]

Regarding the oil pressure switch might be worth taking the spade connector off and giving the terminal a clean with a bit of wet & dry sandpaper. They’re not very robust things from my experience.

 

[Hughandjen]

Regarding the oil pressure switch might be worth taking the spade connector off and giving the terminal a clean with a bit of wet & dry sandpaper. They’re not very robust things from my experience.

Thanks a good plan, worth a try