Completely impromptu vehicular acquisition 👀 - it's here - a giffertastic Rover 45 - now with added cooling system sadness and OMGHGF ....

[N Dentressangle]

9 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Bet it's the w/pump

That or a cracked expansion tank as @Imhotep says.

Leave it idling and see if the leak reveals itself - it's coming out somewhere

[grogee]

Or pressure test? I've found pressure testing cooling system with engine off helps you find leaks, because you can hear air or water escaping then track down the leak. 

[RoverFolkUs]

11 minutes ago, grogee said:

Or pressure test? I've found pressure testing cooling system with engine off helps you find leaks, because you can hear air or water escaping then track down the leak. 

Oh yeah I should have said I did one ages ago and it was fine. Although the workplace provided one is knackered now and I haven't got my own 😅

[RoverFolkUs]

On 10/01/2026 at 00:29, Imhotep said:

Do these suffer the cracked thermostat housing the KV6s suffer? 
 

Also I know expansion tanks on these, like Rover 800s can be a pain. Might be worth getting it really warm and seeing if there’s a small crack opening up in the expansion tank when the car is warm. 

I've just replaced the thermostat and housing anyway because it wasn't getting up to temperature properly, so that's ruled out

Good point well made on the expansion tank, I did have it right up to temperature (105C) ensuring the fans were cutting in as intended after doing the above repairs and I couldn't see any signs of it letting go. Nor is there any residue that I could see around the tank

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Had the same fault on a 1.1 K-series Metro, it was the expansion tanks joint seal had failed, ok cold, then as it warmed up would loose the coolant until it was up to temperature, a new tank solved the problem.

[Matty]

6 hours ago, The Old Bloke Next Door said:

Had the same fault on a 1.1 K-series Metro, it was the expansion tanks joint seal had failed, ok cold, then as it warmed up would loose the coolant until it was up to temperature, a new tank solved the problem.

Had the same on a Fiat Coupe. No obvious damage or leaks but a hairline crack in the expansion tank that opened up going up to temp then sealed again at full temp. Right bastard to find.

[RoverFolkUs]

Maybe I'll parts cannon a new expansion tank then if I don't find anything untoward under the timing covers, thanks all

[rainagain]

Worth trying one of those UV dye leak kits off Amazon? I used one to track down a weeping connection to a heater matrix in a Volvo that I’d never have found otherwise. 

[RoverFolkUs]

18 minutes ago, rainagain said:

Worth trying one of those UV dye leak kits off Amazon? I used one to track down a weeping connection to a heater matrix in a Volvo that I’d never have found otherwise. 

Oh blimey that's a good shout, just ordered a kit 

[Zelandeth]

If it's running the pink OAT coolant just a blacklight might help you find it as it is as it glows orange pretty well just on its own even without a trace dye.

[paolodivichio]

Is it leaking from the coolant elbow on the front of the head? There's a gasket that can go between it and the head that can leak. Also I haven't seen it mentioned, but have you tried changing the coolant cap as cheap ones can cause problems! 

I once had a leak like this after changing the thermostat housing, which turned out I hadn't seated the o-ring correctly when pushing it into the back of the water pump too, a new o-ring sorted it. 

[beko1987]

Can you rev the engine whilst being in the engine bay?

I got pissed off with a similar slow but there coolant leak in my old xm. I angrily revved the fuck out of the engine in mild anger one day and that caused the pinhole in the hose to open up. In normal driving the fine jet it sprayed evaporated by the time I could pull over to top it up.

Or add some bubble bath? The foam should make any leaks obvious and you can treat the rest as a coolant flush

[RoverFolkUs]

Well this car really knows how to twist the knife 😂

Treated it to a windscreen chip repair on Tuesday, this evening it decides to stall/cut out as I put the clutch down to change gear, then upon restarting I had a battery light in my face 😃

So it's eaten it's alternator. Wonderful

[sierraman]

Steel Seal to the rescue! 

[RoverFolkUs]

Pulled the timing covers and front pulley off, found a pool of coolant behind the engine mount bracket. Presumably it's hiding in there and evaporating without a trace. 

That explains where it's going then! 

Sadly it looks like OMGHGF is setting in anyway. There's some scummy oily residue in the expansion tank building up and I looked under the oil cap and there's a pretty horrific amount of mayo under there. At least it's oil and water mixing HGF instead of overheating etc...

Not decided on what to do just yet. I removed the alternator and took the voltage regulator off to find the brushes fairly worn, but there was still a bit on them. 

I don't think I've got any other option than to fix it. It's only worth scrap to anyone with head gasket symptoms 🤷‍♂️

I debated getting just a new voltage regulator for about £25 but it seems to be Chineseium, the next option is a Bosch one for £45 but then I've found a brand new Bosch alternator for £85 so as much as I'd like to repair it I think it would be a false economy. 

Still disappointing, but what else can I do 😅

[High Jetter]

8 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

I don't think I've got any other option than to fix it.

You know it makes sense...

Good luck, hope it doesn't fight you too much.

[stuboy]

54 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

I don't think I've got any other option than to fix it. It's only worth scrap to anyone with head gasket symptoms 🤷‍♂️

good luck

[grogee]

1 hour ago, RoverFolkUs said:

That explains where it's going then! 

Sadly it looks like OMGHGF is setting in

K-series wet belt. 

Seriously though, what a PITA. Saying that, if anyone knows how to fix it - it's you. Shirley a gasket set isn't going to break the bank. 

If it were me I'd gamble on the Chinese alternator regulator too but I'm daft like that. 

[Matty]

1 hour ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Pulled the timing covers and front pulley off, found a pool of coolant behind the engine mount bracket. Presumably it's hiding in there and evaporating without a trace. 

That explains where it's going then! 

Sadly it looks like OMGHGF is setting in anyway. There's some scummy oily residue in the expansion tank building up and I looked under the oil cap and there's a pretty horrific amount of mayo under there. At least it's oil and water mixing HGF instead of overheating etc...

Not decided on what to do just yet. I removed the alternator and took the voltage regulator off to find the brushes fairly worn, but there was still a bit on them. 

I don't think I've got any other option than to fix it. It's only worth scrap to anyone with head gasket symptoms 🤷‍♂️

I debated getting just a new voltage regulator for about £25 but it seems to be Chineseium, the next option is a Bosch one for £45 but then I've found a brand new Bosch alternator for £85 so as much as I'd like to repair it I think it would be a false economy. 

Still disappointing, but what else can I do 😅

Thankyou react may seem a bit wierd. But buzzing youre going to mend it. Itll do you a good turn in return, that i dont doubt.

[RoverFolkUs]

Been a while since I've updated this one 

In the end I bought and fitted the new Bosch alternator. And promptly shoved the old one in the loft telling myself I'll rebuild it as a spare one day 😂 

I've not done much else to the car, it proved itself very useful and capacious when I had to transport my tools thanks to a career change 

Sadly someone reversed into the rear bumper (at low speed) last month which scuffed the paint and cracked the chrome trim - but this won't be a difficult fix and it's low down on the priorities right now. I've already managed to source a replacement chrome trim, which proved more difficult than I originally thought 😅

Now, elephant in the room. OMGHGF? 

Well, it's always been losing a little bit of coolant which I discovered was caused by the water pump. However I was also noticing a "scum line" in the coolant tank. Therefore, before doing a cambelt and water pump I wanted to be sure it didn't also need a head gasket otherwise I'd end up doing the same job twice. 

I've been driving the car around locally to monitor it, it has never once overheated, which is good, but with regular coolant top-ups and a bit of usage, it has confirmed.... 

Yep, definitely OMGHGF! 

Since it's not boiling up, I'm happy the liners should be ok and it should be a fairly straightforward repair. 

Coming soon then will be a head gasket replacement on this. I'm hoping to crack on with it later this month 

[RoverFolkUs]

Been a while since I've updated this one 

In the end I bought and fitted the new Bosch alternator. And promptly shoved the old one in the loft telling myself I'll rebuild it as a spare one day 😂 

I've not done much else to the car, it proved itself very useful and capacious when I had to transport my tools thanks to a career change 

Sadly someone reversed into the rear bumper (at low speed) last month which scuffed the paint and cracked the chrome trim - but this won't be a difficult fix and it's low down on the priorities right now. I've already managed to source a replacement chrome trim, which proved more difficult than I originally thought 😅

Now, elephant in the room. OMGHGF? 

Well, it's always been losing a little bit of coolant which I discovered was caused by the water pump. However I was also noticing a "scum line" in the coolant tank. Therefore, before doing a cambelt and water pump I wanted to be sure it didn't also need a head gasket otherwise I'd end up doing the same job twice. 

I've been driving the car around locally to monitor it, it has never once overheated, which is good, but with regular coolant top-ups and a bit of usage, it has confirmed.... 

Yep, definitely OMGHGF! 

Since it's not boiling up, I'm happy the liners should be ok and it should be a fairly straightforward repair. 

Coming soon then will be a head gasket replacement on this. I'm hoping to crack on with it later this month