Technical HELP! Coolant leak above oil filter!

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Technical HELP! Coolant leak above oil filter!

masterpatfx

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Hi! So my Fiat Punto Mk2 1.2L 8v (2002) is leaking coolant from above the oil filter, as shown in the photos. It seems to be coming from a threaded hole somehow, just above the filter and next to the water pump (which has the orange sealer).

The water pump and thermostat have just been replaced, and its not the hoses. I'm pretty sure its from that threaded hole in the engine block as there is no moisture above it or behind it. The water pump sealer is dry as well.

Can anyone tell me what this hole is please? I thought of inserting an appropriate sized bolt with a copper washer into it to seal it. What do you guys think?

Thanks a lot!
 

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Does the car indeed leak coolant? Does the level drop below the max level?
Since you just replaced the thermostat and pump, which meant to empty the circuit, could it be just overflow of an overfilled system as the circuit settles?
 
Thanks for your reply!

Yes it is definitely coolant as it is blue Paraflu. Yes the level is dropping below the minimum as well unless I top it up..its leaking at a rate of about 1 drop per 6 seconds when the car is turned on. It could be I guess but I don't think it was overfilled as when I filled it up it didn't take the fu 4.7 Litres coolant..only about 3.8L.

Thanks!
 
Behind the water pump is a steel pipe that connects to a large hose at the opposite end, and I think a heater hose. These are a push fit into the back of the pump housing, with an O-ring seal.
The pipes have a habit of corroding through.

You probably need a new pipe, but a new O-ring might be all you need. Need a careful look, sadly there's a manifold in the way.

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-mk2-2b-guides/193395-how-replace-steel-coolant-carrier-pipe.html

http://62.106.11.160:8000/navi?SGRP...ROUP_7&SB_CODE=-1&WINDOW_ID=1&ALL_LIST_PART=0
 

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It's probably the seal at the water pump end of the steel pipe.
There are two hoses on that pipe. Only the big one needs to be removed to replace the seal.
A bit of liquid soap helps pushing the pipe back in.
 
Thanks for your help guys!

I will check the water rail and o-ring area again, but yesterday I felt around it and it wasn't wet, plus the water was coming out of that threaded hole.

I found and image online of a punto mk2 engine block (attached) and the water seems to be coming out of the bottom marked hole (marked in a red circle). Can you tell me what these are and if these are supposed to be closed?

Thank you!
 

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Another photo which might help is this attached (in red).. thanks!
 

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Another photo which might help is this attached (in red).. thanks!



Hi,just checked on my 54 plate 8v. I have the same casting but no threaded holes. They may be drilled out and threaded to hold something to the block,but not yours. Measure the depth of the holes with small screw driver or drill, and put slightly shorter bolts in the threaded holes with sealant on the threads. Hope this helps.
 
Your two pics highlight different holes. So which?

Liquid running down will likely run into any hole, and may therefore appear to be coming from it. There is no reason why coolant would escape from any threaded hole, unless something has been removed from the hole, or you've recently screwed something into the hole and broken through the bottom of it. I doubt you've done either, so the threaded hole is not the answer.
 
Thanks for your replies guys!

I had another look and you are right portland_bill, it is not the threaded hole, although that's what it seemed like. Under that hole, around the area where the water rail and water pump meet, it's quite wet. Also, the area around the water rail O-ring, although it feels dry, looks like it has dried coolant around it.

So at the moment I think it might be the O-ring or the water rail itself, but I'll have to get a better look soon to find the right source. Could it be a core plug under the timing belt cover or a head gasket leak?

Thank you!
 
Got a white rag and when I touch the underside of the water rail O-ring connection, a blue drop appears on the rag..I think it's safe to say that it's the water rail/O-ring (in my area no one sells the O-ring by itself, so gonna change the whole thing, cheap anyway)..

Thanks a lot for your help!
 
Can't find the thread, but anyway better to change the whole thing as its all rusted and probably will corrode through soon anyway. Only 19 quid for the whole thing anyway.. Thanks though!
 
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