Coolant System Leak

[davlam]

Hi all,

My 318is ('93) has sprung a leak, driving along noticed the temp light on.. It is not the radiator or the hoses. It appears to be coming from the engine block to the left (as you face the car) and behind the thermostat housing. Only managed to have a quick look as it was torrential yesterday.
I have read in the manual (Haynes i'm afraid) that there are

cylinder block drain plugs

but there are no pictures or descriptions etc. I can feel a square headed plug of some description and close by a small hole which may or may not be missing a bung.
Anyone got any pictures etc..or help with this area of the cooling system.
I can't be more precise as the car is at my mother in laws so can't take any pics right now.

cheers,

davlam

[bad man working]

If you’ve got a M42 engine there’s a common fault with a rubber seal that sit at the front of the head/block above the water pump housing, they rot away with age and the coolant leaks out of the back of the front timing cover on the exhaust side of the block. That’s the good news.
The bad news is you have remove the cylinder head to fix it..

[davlam]

Originally posted by ""+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE("")</div><div class='quotemain'>That’s the good news.[/b]

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The bad news is you have remove the cylinder head to fix it.. [/quote] ghead ghead ghead

Will have a closer look tomorrow...then find someone to buy it as it's 12 years old and not worth much. In fact the private reg is worth more than the car... ghead

[davlam]

hi,

had a closer look using a mirror and managed to take this pic..it looks quite tame here but in reality when i fill the radiator the water pours out from this area...so looks as though you were right...