Developed a coolant leak this week, @ 1 litre per 100 miles (sets off Low Coolant warning)

Undertray had lots of coolant and subframe covered in drips.

With top cover off engine, and fan shroud removed (not had the fan fitted for @ 5 years) ran the car up to normal temperature, then switched off. Regular drip coming from bottom of crankshaft pulley, and another drip from the radiator bottom hose (coolant running down the underside). Ah, water pump or thermostat housing?

Out with the inspection lamp and mirror, really no indication of any leakage above the crankshaft pulley from either the water pump or the thermostat housing, so a bit mystified as to where the problem is. Can the water pump leak from other than the seal/gasket? Don't really want to start taking it all apart until I figure out the problem. It is the original water pump (afaik) so it could be reaching the end of its useful life and about the spectacularly die on me? Took the tension off the drive belt and there is a fair amount of wiggle on the water pump. Also hoping it is not head gasket!

Europarts offering Circoli or Airtex water pumps @ £60, or should I go for LR ? Will probably replace the thermostat and the drive belts while I am at it. 

Hi Joe, if your water pump has a lot of wiggle it will be the bearings going. It's only a matter of time before it implodes and wrecks your Pulley etc.

If you can get a hella pump. I replaced mine 2yrs ago with a hella (which I think is oem). I haven't heard of your two options but defintley don't get a first line - they are sh@t.

Thanks for the reply, will the wiggle also be causing the leak? (i.e. the wear on the bearing is allowing coolant to pass?)

Had a feel around and behind water pump pulley and it is all wet so guessing new pump needed

Leak only seems to occur while engine running / system under pressure & hot.

This is quite a useful reference: http://www.aa1car.com/library/water_pump.htm 

I would go for a MEYLE German one over the Europarts offering, also cheaper on ebay..http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-E53-3-0D-...SwFqJWlk28 2003 TD6, EGR delete, Dual batteries, uhf 2way, Android head unit, Led Headlights, DRL`s , Trailer brake controller. icarsoft & IPNA Diagnostics.

Good find wayne

For convenience, bit the bullet and got pump, stat, & both drive belts for just over a ton.

Now to dismantle and fit  

All sorted, everything came apart nicely, everything went back together nicely. New pump, new 'stat, new drive belts. No leaks Enjoyed working in reverse/mirror image, when using a mirror to locate bolts in the places you just can't see

I am sticking with the water pump being the culprit, the shaft was very wobbly compared to the new one.

For reference, the thermostat requires an inverse Torx socket "E8" on my set (probably the reverse of a T30), and the water pump requires a Torx "T30". The two bolts holding the EGR exhaust pipe require a Torx "T45"

Use a 16mm spanner to release the tension on the Air Con belt, use a 24mm spanner to do the same for the main drive belt

I gave a light greasing to the insides of the upper parts of any coolant pipe fixings (the hard plastic parts), just to help with fitting/removing

I fitted the bottom hose to the thermostat before fitting the thermostat, to ensure a good tight fit. They were a swine to get apart on removal.

I have decided for the time being not to refit the fan shroud (given I don't have the fan fitted), this meant having to cable tie the hose running to the transmission oil cooler to the bottom of the radiator, and also to cable tie the two electrical connectors that slot into the RHS of the shroud onto an air con pipe. Will see how this goes.

"Mumbling" Joe Ninety provided the narration on the video:

 

Super and informative video there.
glad to hear it solved your problem.
Well done and thanks for the info.
greg

Excellent video, thanks for taking the time to document it. Did you put all the EGR cooler stuff back or blank it?? 2003 TD6, EGR delete, Dual batteries, uhf 2way, Android head unit, Led Headlights, DRL`s , Trailer brake controller. icarsoft & IPNA Diagnostics.

When shall I bring mine round for some Joe treatment?! It needs it!! 

@gregdav

thanks

@ wayne

It all went back on

@ stacker

anytime if you need the help  

I need lots of help!

Doing the turbo hose, front height sensor and front drivers side shock, and a suspension arm this week coming! About time too  

I had a sudden leak, having had a very slow loss of coolant. I couldn't see any pipes leaking but the leak appeared to be in the region of the pump, I've just taken the water pump off and discovered it has no gasket. There is no play in the pump. Should there be a gasket if it has been changed since new?
For info in order to try and identify where the leak might come from I topped the expansion tank with water and it just fell out of wherever it is leaking! The pump could be defective but it doesn't look like it. Having taken it all apart I would rather get it right first time when I reassemble it all. I have a new LR thermostat coming as the car had been running cold after I had removed the EGR system. It had a Eurocarparts one about 3 months ago.
Any way should the pump have a gasket?

Yes, it should have a gasket

Check closely, as if original water pump the edges of parts of the gasket are tucked under the surrounding casings. It is also difficult to see properly in that area

Any wobble on your pump shaft ?

Good time to change the thermostat while you have all this apart  

Thanks Joe90. I took another look after your post and, sure enough, there was the gasket, undamaged and showing no sign of leakage. Sooo next thing is to fit the new thermostat and put the pump back (it must have been changed as it has a metal impeller), connect up all the pipework and pour in some water to see whether it falls out. If it does I'll have to start the search again - if not I'll flash her up and see what happens. Thermostat due in Dumfries tomorrow morning so, weather permitting, I should be able to get this done tomorrow afternoon. Thanks again Joe90 - I should have looked more closely the first time!
And the pump has no play.

Quote:

Any wobble on your pump shaft ?

was tempted to put an ooer! after this

Glad you found the gasket, hope you find the problem  

Have "IID non BT 02-05" & "RSW All Comms" in Hampshire - happy to help
Also have VAG VCDS if you have an Audi/VW etc.
Always have comprehensive toolkit: hammer, duct tape, WD40
robertus-maximus - sollus-arbilla vagor stlata