86 360 GLE Water pump seal leak

pettaw · Aug 16th, 2003, 13:47

Just happened today. A big leak started and within 5 minutes had emptied the expansion bottle. Called the 'very nice' man as up in Glasgow 400 miles from home. It looks like its coming from the join between the head and the water pump. He seemed to think Radweld might fix it. I'm not sure about that, having heard horror stories about it.

Should I try the Radweld, or take a chance and try and get it home to London where I can fix it taking plenty of water with me.

Andy

Aug 16th, 2003, 17:32

400 miles is a loooooong way to go having to top up every 10 mins or so!

I`ve also heard a few horror stories about Radweld - gummed up rad cores etc. but have used it when stuck - not that it helped much - the leak was just too big.

Is there no way you could effect a temporary repair, perhaps with some gasket paste or similar? May be enough to slow the leak and get you home with less topping up.

That said I don`t know how easy the pump is to get at on a 360 - it`s not one of those awkward buggers driven by the cambelt is it?

You could try "breaking down" on the way home and getting the "very nice man" to tow you home!

Good Luck

Will Plummer

pettaw · Aug 16th, 2003, 17:38

Nope, its just like on the 1.4, except that there's loads of gubbins because of the viscous coupling fan etc.

I just drove it round 50 miles most of which at 50-60 mph, and it hasn't lost a drop and where it was dripping from has now stopped.

Weird huh!

I'm definitely inclined to give it a go. The bloke said he'd put the prob down as a heater hose, so if I rang again, they would tow me, otherwise they might refuse. He was a very nice man wasn't he :)

Thanks
Andy

Aug 17th, 2003, 16:42

Its very unusual for this seal to go. I have seen damaged heads before with cracks or damaged gaskets, that swallow water suddenly while warming up then seal for the remainder of the journey, although they do tend to spit water out of the exhaust. If its not cracked it can be fixed with a skim and a new gastket.

Take at least 10L of water with you.

pettaw · Aug 30th, 2003, 17:22

All sorted now. It only lost about 1 litre of water the whole journey, because I warmed the car up with the cap off. Once it had run about 200 miles the leak stopped completely. Weird huh :o

The reason was clear once I'd removed the pump. The seal on the top had disintegrated completely. So perhaps I wasted the money putting a whole new pump on, but then again, the pump itself might have started to leak in the next few months and I would have had to go through the performance of taking off those pulleys, holding stuff with screwdrivers etc. etc.etc.

Refilled and no more leaks. So hopefully the end of it.

Thanks Will and Tony for your help :)

Andy.

Aug 16th, 2003, 13:47	#1
pettaw Forum Support Team Last Online: Jul 23rd, 2023 15:29 Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Glasgow, London	86 360 GLE Water pump seal leak Just happened today. A big leak started and within 5 minutes had emptied the expansion bottle. Called the 'very nice' man as up in Glasgow 400 miles from home. It looks like its coming from the join between the head and the water pump. He seemed to think Radweld might fix it. I'm not sure about that, having heard horror stories about it. Should I try the Radweld, or take a chance and try and get it home to London where I can fix it taking plenty of water with me. Andy

Aug 16th, 2003, 17:32	#2
wjp01908 Guest Location:	RE: 86 360 GLE Water pump seal leak 400 miles is a loooooong way to go having to top up every 10 mins or so! I`ve also heard a few horror stories about Radweld - gummed up rad cores etc. but have used it when stuck - not that it helped much - the leak was just too big. Is there no way you could effect a temporary repair, perhaps with some gasket paste or similar? May be enough to slow the leak and get you home with less topping up. That said I don`t know how easy the pump is to get at on a 360 - it`s not one of those awkward buggers driven by the cambelt is it? You could try "breaking down" on the way home and getting the "very nice man" to tow you home! Good Luck Will Plummer

Aug 16th, 2003, 17:38	#3
pettaw Forum Support Team Last Online: Jul 23rd, 2023 15:29 Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Glasgow, London	RE: 86 360 GLE Water pump seal leak Nope, its just like on the 1.4, except that there's loads of gubbins because of the viscous coupling fan etc. I just drove it round 50 miles most of which at 50-60 mph, and it hasn't lost a drop and where it was dripping from has now stopped. Weird huh! I'm definitely inclined to give it a go. The bloke said he'd put the prob down as a heater hose, so if I rang again, they would tow me, otherwise they might refuse. He was a very nice man wasn't he :) Thanks Andy

Aug 17th, 2003, 16:42	#4
TonyS Guest Location:	RE: 86 360 GLE Water pump seal leak Its very unusual for this seal to go. I have seen damaged heads before with cracks or damaged gaskets, that swallow water suddenly while warming up then seal for the remainder of the journey, although they do tend to spit water out of the exhaust. If its not cracked it can be fixed with a skim and a new gastket. Take at least 10L of water with you.

Aug 30th, 2003, 17:22	#5
pettaw Forum Support Team Last Online: Jul 23rd, 2023 15:29 Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Glasgow, London	RE: 86 360 GLE Water pump seal leak All sorted now. It only lost about 1 litre of water the whole journey, because I warmed the car up with the cap off. Once it had run about 200 miles the leak stopped completely. Weird huh :o The reason was clear once I'd removed the pump. The seal on the top had disintegrated completely. So perhaps I wasted the money putting a whole new pump on, but then again, the pump itself might have started to leak in the next few months and I would have had to go through the performance of taking off those pulleys, holding stuff with screwdrivers etc. etc.etc. Refilled and no more leaks. So hopefully the end of it. Thanks Will and Tony for your help :) Andy.

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