Coolant leak from Turbo?!! - and other Questions..

[Gordon]

Here's one, which someone may have come across before, and therefor have a quick answer to!!

I'm loosing a small amount of coolant - no visable leak when hot, however - When the engine is cold, if I remove the header cap, coolant dribbles down the front of the precat, and drips off the front precat-flange to downpipe stud.

I've peered in as best I can, but the heat shields obscure the view - it's not either the turbo feed or return rubber hoses, checked them.

Any ideas?



Gordon.

[Gordon]

Nobody seen this before? - I'll take the heat shields off ASAP, try and get a better view...
Gordon

[Monty]

Gordon,

not seen that before, could be several things but you need to remove the shields for further inspection

1st to check is the Water feed pipes going to the Turbo
2nd might be worth having a block test done to rule out HG failure, if the gasket has gone piston to waterways then you will get water in the exhaust system.

God knows from there
Turbo internal damage, ie cracked casing were the waterways are

Keep us all up todate on your findings

[Gordon]

Well, having dug further into this problem, it is indeed a failed turbo.

The turbo main body has developed a crack, right behind the exhaust turbine, through to the water gallery!

result - when standing cold, exhaust manifold fills up with coolant! - Lots of steam on startup! - good job I've not got a cat!

Gordon.

[mikeydude]

Ouch..sounds expensive.
There are companies that can weld cast iron and alloys for that matter.

My dad had a cast arm on a textile machine repaired a while back and it was a very intricate job!

[Monty]

Well, having dug further into this problem, it is indeed a failed turbo.

The turbo main body has developed a crack, right behind the exhaust turbine, through to the water gallery!

result - when standing cold, exhaust manifold fills up with coolant! - Lots of steam on startup! - good job I've not got a cat!

Gordon.

Thats bad news and never heard of anyone on the forum having that problem so it`s got to be rare.

[Gordon]

Having obtained a very nice 2nd hand unit, I'm in the process of tidying up my mainfold & plenum/precat etc..
sorting out various sheared bolts and tatty bits of heatshield - many of you know the same story...

I question comes to mind - should I port the wastegate while It's all in bits like this?

I have a perfectly servicable standard exhaust, and no plans to modify in any way... however the question remains...

Is there any disadvantage in porting it?

TIA,

Gordon

[tigerdog]

I question comes to mind - should I port the wastegate while It's all in bits like this?

Yes, I would definitely port the wastegate. There seems to be no downside and though you may plan to keep the exhaust standard now, you might change your mind in the future. Whether replaced due to tinworm or advancing middle age and concomitant desire for more power as compensation for declining... *cough*, erm, not that I have personal experience...

Or maybe you sell the car someday and the next owner wants a mountain chip - what a nice thing to be able to mention in your for sale advert.

[Gordon]

For anyone who's interested, This is where my turbo housing had cracked - resulting in a coolant leak into the exhaust turbine housing.
After standing overnight, the whole exhaust would be full of coolant - Lots of steam on startup!!

[GeoffSmith]

Looks like you might need some stainless wastegate manifold studs....