Right, you may remember a while back that I posted on here about my gf's sei loosing coolant rapidly. Guessed at water pump as that was vacinity of leak.

Have now got bits (pump & cambelt) and have got all covers off, etc and with the aid of a torch have realised that the water pump isn't leaking, it is in fact leaking from a hole in the block above the oil filter (hole is about 5mm dia.).

If I fill the expansion bottle it literally pisses out of here!! Is this a core plug? If it is, why is it leaking and how can I stop it? Plumbers mate??

I'll still replace the pump & cambelt as it's done about 50k so cambelt needs doing and may as well do the pump as I've got one.

Just need to sort this leak!!

you mean a hole in the core plug? if so pick it out with screw driver and fit a new one

Well I don;t know for sure that it is a core plug!! I'll take a pic and post it up to clarify. I've got belt off and just drained coolant, so will flush it out then leave it for today and re-fit new pump & belt tomorrow, so no hurry.

Where can I get a suitable core plug as replacement? Motor factors? How are they normally held in and why are they there? Of all the things I've had to do on cars/engines I've never had to replace a core plug!!

i always thought there suppose to blow out before anything else does, like too much heat or ice, but they hardly ever do. i've only ever seen one pop out on its own, so i reckon they must be something to do with how the block is cast

This is the other side, and a 1242 but it shows what a core plug looks like

https://www.fiatforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9573&d=1133452327

This picture shows the other side, but has no labels

https://www.fiatforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10018&d=1134406362

Christ - no it's not as big as that!!! As I said it's about 5mm. I've got a couple of pics here now:

Up close:



And a bit further away so you can get it in perspective:



It's level with water pump but in the block (which is why I thought pump was leaking!!) and inline but above the oil filter as you can just about tell from the 2nd pic as you can see part of the oil filter mounting.

Any ideas what it is? Small core plug? I was thinking of just plugging it with something, unless soemthing has fell out?

its not a core plug.
edit but if you clean off the dirt i think that is part of the alloy bit not the block,

aye thats not a core plug. the big discs are the core plugs.

they are used in the casting of the block and allow sand to be removed from water jackets. they arent used for pressure relief and will only go when rusted through. they are easy to replace but hard to get to.
your leak looks like its from the water pump housing. is that a screw in there? cant see properly but it might be an allen screw? if it is remove it and glue it back in with jam (sealant)
EDIT: actually it might be a very small core plug

Tis a typically failed water pump, around 16 pounds id say and a couple of hours for a diy'er to do!

Sorry Midland Fiat, I have already removed the water pump, yes it had a very small leak but the holw in the pics above, NEXT to the water pump is allowing coolant to **** out!!
Yeah, I realise now that core plugs are usually bigger. I will clean it up tomorrow to see what it is, whether it be an allen bolt or plug of some sort. At worst I'll just plug it up with something, but it must be something. Maybe someone with an engine out could have a look?

BTW, it's not the waterpump housing as I have removed waterpump, the hole is in part of the engine - I would say block but maybe I'm wrong to say that? I imagine it to be a hole through the tunnel/gallery that you can see if you look through the hole that is left when you remove the water pump.

So its not leaking from that hole???

That hole is in the water pump housing, when the seal goes/release valve water comes out!!!

Really? I was under the impression that when the seal went water passed down the shaft from impellor side to the pulley side,as it had a little.

So that hole is inline with the water pump bearing/seal then and lets water by when the seal fails? Sounds good to me, cheers Will fit new pump and see that it cures it.

Seems funny to design a bypass for the water if the seal fails, as it would just let by through the seal anyway, unless it's so water is kept away from the cambelt/crank angle sensor?

If water is coming out that hole i bet my Coupe 20vt a new pump will stop it, how could it not.

If you scrape all the crap off the pump when removed you will see what i mean with regards to seal/valve/leak! All becomes clear.

As advice, make sure the sealant is Very well set before you put water back in!

Im 100% certain, ive certainly changed a few!

Cheers mate, funny that no-one else has pointed out that the hole is there to vent water when the pump seal starts to fail.
It must be to protect cambelt, etc from getting wet and slipping, etc.
Cheers

You will see what i mean when you remove it. Defintly the case.

It may not be desined to come out of there when the seal wears but it certainly does. I see it most often when people use certain copper based rad weld products, it literally sands the seal away and creates the leak!

At least there nice and easy to change!

Yep, I have to apologise - I was being a total ****!!

It was indeed a hole in the ater pump housing, whilst I sat in the linge last night I picked up the new pump & noticed that it had two holes in it running from the centre shaft!! As I say this is partly to give an indication of wear, and also to prevent cambelt area getting wet I'd say!!

Fooled me because I was looking at the hole from other side and was sure it was block!! Should have realised sooner it was pump housing as someone mentioned earlier!!!

Incidenatlly, will normal silicone sealant be OK to seal this? Not to worry - I had some instant gasket handy.

Right, all finished...but, I can't get the ****ing arch liner back in properly. Can't get the hole nrst shock lined up, it just won;t budge!! Looking at the slight gap down the wing down to the front of skirt I'm guessing it's not tucked in properly around the skirt.

Any tips on these stupid things?

Right, possible I've still got a slight leak Missus was moaning that it might not start in the morning so can I start it, blah, blah, blah. Sealant had been on since about 10 am until about 3.30pm before I filled the coolant system. Then she wanted me to start so I did about half hour later.
Noticed that some water had gathered on one of the under trays/guards, wasn;t sure if it was pump leaking at joint or water I'd spilt. Run it until fan cut in, no obvious leaks?
Just had a look today and the undertray is now dry so apparently not still dripping, bottom hose has been weeping so will tighten this, but level has dropped from max to just above min. Could be due to air lock clearing, or could mean a leak

refill it, and if it does it again look for leaks. it should be fine though. i'm sure mine did this too.