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Oil and coolant leaks


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Hi all.

I've been absent from the forum for a while due to more pressing needs than those of my TR.  However I went for a decent drive yesterday (started out fine but the last half was in the rain with a currently inoperative roof) and the car performed brilliantly - my confidence in her is growing rapidly.  The two immediate issues that need to be addressed after this jaunt are the roof (sheduled for repair in two weeks time) and the alternator (recently rebuilt but not enough output with Bosch pump, headlights and wipers all operating together).

I've just had a good look over her this morning and find that the oil leak that I've been chasing for a while now isn't getting any better and that I also have a leak from the rear of the waterpump that needs attendention.  While I was at it, I pulled the plugs and found all to be in good order (in my view anyway) and pretty much indentical (1-6 from the LH side in the pic).

My questions today are:

(a) The oil leak appears to be coming from the head gasket area as it's clean above that level as it is around the rocker cover gasket (which I originally thought was the culprit and recently replaced).  Any thoughts - could I be correct re the head gasket?

(b) Coolant is clearly coming from the waterpump shaft area. After all of the issues I've had with the brakes on this car I have little faith in the so-called  'professionals' so I want to either rebuild it myself or source a well-made replacement.  Again, any suggestions re sourcing parts and rebuild procedure?

It's a beautiful spring day today here down under, we're all looking forward to a cracking summer!

Kind regards.

 

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Edited by KiwiTR6
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Beautiful spring day in Australia too, just came back from the Euroa Show & Shine -huge crowd and I'm full of inspiration to finish off the odd jobs on my TR.

I'd try the easiest thing first with the cylinder head oil leak- check  the torque on the head bolts-you might be lucky and only require a simple fix.

All water pumps have a tell tale hole under the shaft to warn of seal leaks- if it's dripping from that it needs a new seal or the pump itself to be replaced. The only water pumps I know can be rebuilt and the seal replaced are the originals that have a grease nipple.

I replaced my pump about 7 years ago with one from a local British car parts supplier, I can't find a name on it or any details in my records. Good , rebuildable original water pumps are like hen's teeth.  I'm sure you'll get the names of reputable replacement pumps suppliers in later responses to your question.

One thing you should be careful of is don't go overboard with fan belt tension- my pump failed after the fan belt was replaced in a country garage and it might have been due to an overtightened belt.

Your plugs look  good enough for a daily driver - I'm totally satisfied with my own 3 electrode BUR6ET's.

 

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51 minutes ago, Mike C said:

Beautiful spring day in Australia too, just came back from the Euroa Show & Shine -huge crowd and I'm full of inspiration to finish off the odd jobs on my TR.

I'd try the easiest thing first with the cylinder head oil leak- check  the torque on the head bolts-you might be lucky and only require a simple fix.

All water pumps have a tell tale hole under the shaft to warn of seal leaks- if it's dripping from that it needs a new seal or the pump itself to be replaced. The only water pumps I know can be rebuilt and the seal replaced are the originals that have a grease nipple.

I replaced my pump about 7 years ago with one from a local British car parts supplier, I can't find a name on it or any details in my records. Good , rebuildable original water pumps are like hen's teeth.  I'm sure you'll get the names of reputable replacement pumps suppliers in later responses to your question.

One thing you should be careful of is don't go overboard with fan belt tension- my pump failed after the fan belt was replaced in a country garage and it might have been due to an overtightened belt.

Your plugs look  good enough for a daily driver - I'm totally satisfied with my own 3 electrode BUR6ET's.

 

Hi Mike.

Thanks for the tip on the head bolts - wish I'd checked them before I replaced the rocker cover gasket!  It's coming off again though....

I have the pump off now and its a no-name item which has failed after around 7,000km.  I'll pull it apart as I have nothing to lose but will probably replace it with a Moss or similar item, depending on advice to come.

Plugs are interesting and I'm more than happy with the BUR6ET's which have been a little contraversial on this forum.  What pleases me most is that all 6 are the same colour which I put down to removing the rocker cover breather hose from the intake plenum and simply terminating it with a small pleated filter.

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Lot of our engines leak on the plug side, the head bolts are either in the middle or on the opposite side, there is little clamping pressure on the plug side. Unless it’s a very bad leak you can just live with it, if you change the head gasket you can use some sealant on it to improve things.

Ian

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My head leaks the same. Standard on a TR6 although I think a gasket with a good sealant might fix it, at least for awhile. I live with it, it isn't too bad so I just clean the engine occasionally.

I have a Moss replacement water pump on my TR2. It has been there since the late 90s and over 100,000 miles.

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I have the same minor leak on the plug side, good to know it's a common issue. 

May have to look into these plugs.

Gareth

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I thought I had a leak on my head gasket, and was really disappointed since I have a fresh rebuilt engine.

I wiped the engine clean and on closer inspection it came from the cork rocker cover gasket on the bulkhead side. Not easy to see on new dark engine paint.

I was afraid to bend the cover, so had not tightened it enough.

Nipping the cover up a bit more stopped the leakage.

So if you have the leakage and think it is the head gasket (on the left side), do a double check, it could well be a simple rocker cover gasket leakage.

Waldi

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I feel the head gasket weep on the side is due to the oil coming thru the middle of the gasket, and not underneath/between the block/head faces, as the repro ones don't have a sealed holes like the Payen ones here,  http://www.heritagegasketsltd.co.uk/products/4588089187/triumph-payen-ref-no-ae350/9368918

John

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 10/7/2019 at 12:09 AM, Waldi said:

I thought I had a leak on my head gasket, and was really disappointed since I have a fresh rebuilt engine.

I wiped the engine clean and on closer inspection it came from the cork rocker cover gasket on the bulkhead side. Not easy to see on new dark engine paint.

I was afraid to bend the cover, so had not tightened it enough.

Nipping the cover up a bit more stopped the leakage.

So if you have the leakage and think it is the head gasket (on the left side), do a double check, it could well be a simple rocker cover gasket leakage.

Waldi

 

On 10/7/2019 at 12:41 AM, TR NIALL said:

Are you sure it’s not Weeping from the Bolt at the back of the Engine just below the Rocker Cover that should be a Copper Washer.

 

On 10/7/2019 at 2:10 AM, John L said:

I feel the head gasket weep on the side is due to the oil coming thru the middle of the gasket, and not underneath/between the block/head faces, as the repro ones don't have a sealed holes like the Payen ones here,  http://www.heritagegasketsltd.co.uk/products/4588089187/triumph-payen-ref-no-ae350/9368918

John

Thanks for the suggestions gents.  The rocker cover gasket is dry as a bone, as is the oil gallery bolt washer, so oil tracking through the head gasket is the most likely culprit.  I didn't build the motor so have no idea what brand it is, but will take John's advice and use a Payen if I ever take the head off.  In the meantime, I'll live with the leak like everyone else.

Sorted out the alternator with a new 70A unit from LucasElektric (LEA0047 for Fiesta, Escort etc).  I had to modify the pulley and fan to suit the larger shaft plus I made up a jumper loom as I couldn't bring myself to cut off the old plug.  Feeling pretty good about how it's worked out.

The new water pump is a County item which was all I could find locally, plus a new Dayco thermostat and 3 repairs to the 'professionally' rebuilt radiator.  The old thermostat was working OK but only opening a fraction of the replacement when I tested both.

Flushing the cooling system today and finishing off with 50/50 distilled water and Castrol glycol antifreeze so she should be back on the road this afternoon.

Cheers

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