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VTMG
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 6
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject: MGBGT V8 help needed |
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I am new to ownership of a 1975 V8 and today after a 20 mile run I parked the car on the drive and a few minutes later found about a cupfull of water(?) beneath the gearbox. This has never happened before. I have only owned the car for a month and done a couple of hundred miles in it thus far.
Any ideas where this water came from? The car has been well maintained. On lifting the bonnet I did notice a ltiny bit of water beneath the heater unit. Should I be worried?
thanks
Van
Nottingham |
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Phil - Nottingham

Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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Clean water or dirty water?
Have you washed the car and moved it?
Used the windscreen washers?
Been out in the rain?
Has it lost coolant?
The Rover Alloy V8 must have strong fresh anti-freeze in it not plain or dirty water.
Also change oil every year or 3000 miles whicever comes first _________________ Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2 |
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VTMG
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 6
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Phil - Nottingham wrote: | Clean water or dirty water?
Have you washed the car and moved it?
Used the windscreen washers?
Been out in the rain?
Has it lost coolant?
The Rover Alloy V8 must have strong fresh anti-freeze in it not plain or dirty water.
Also change oil every year or 3000 miles whicever comes first |
Hi, it was sunny today in Nottingham-so it was not rain! I haven't just washed it either. However I did use the windscreen washers briefly by accident whilst on my journey. The water was a tiny bit oily although I wonder if that was because it was dripping off the gearbox which itself is a little bit grubby.I'll check that and the coolant.
cheers
Van |
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Dirty Habit

Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 398 Location: West Midlands, UK
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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Heater matrix?........don't know where they are on a "B" but it may be worth a look. _________________ 1964 International Harvester |
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VTMG
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 6
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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| VTMG wrote: | | Phil - Nottingham wrote: | Clean water or dirty water?
Have you washed the car and moved it?
Used the windscreen washers?
Been out in the rain?
Has it lost coolant?
The Rover Alloy V8 must have strong fresh anti-freeze in it not plain or dirty water.
Also change oil every year or 3000 miles whicever comes first |
Hi, it was sunny today in Nottingham-so it was not rain! I haven't just washed it either. However I did use the windscreen washers briefly by accident whilst on my journey. The water was a tiny bit oily although I wonder if that was because it was dripping off the gearbox which itself is a little bit grubby.I'll check that and the coolant.
cheers
Van |
Coolant was low-I have topped it up-I'll monitor the situation.
Van |
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VTMG
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 6
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:09 am Post subject: |
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| VTMG wrote: | | VTMG wrote: | | Phil - Nottingham wrote: | Clean water or dirty water?
Have you washed the car and moved it?
Used the windscreen washers?
Been out in the rain?
Has it lost coolant?
The Rover Alloy V8 must have strong fresh anti-freeze in it not plain or dirty water.
Also change oil every year or 3000 miles whicever comes first |
Hi, it was sunny today in Nottingham-so it was not rain! I haven't just washed it either. However I did use the windscreen washers briefly by accident whilst on my journey. The water was a tiny bit oily although I wonder if that was because it was dripping off the gearbox which itself is a little bit grubby.I'll check that and the coolant.
cheers
Van |
Coolant was low-I have topped it up-I'll monitor the situation.
Van |
Anyone any ideas why the coolant should be so low?. No leaks that I can detect, and no mayonnaise in the oil either.
thanks
Van |
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peter scott

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7215 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:46 am Post subject: |
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Welcome to the forum.
The combination of low coolant level and the water underneath does rather suggest a leak. You'll just have to try and trace the path of the leak back to
its source.
Peter _________________ https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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Rick Site Admin

Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22798 Location: UK
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:02 am Post subject: |
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Maybe try the washers briefly with the car sat on the drive, engine not running, and see if the same drip on the driveway underneath appears? it may just help tick that one off the list??
Talking of leaks, a friend of mine had a CA Bedford camper a couple of years ago and he was losing coolant slowly. It was a tiny drip, I think from the top hose, and the fan was blowing the droplets away and drying them, so that it was really tricky to spot where the leak was.
R _________________ Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4873 Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
I had a pin hole leak which only dripped when under pressure unfortunately it was directly above the exhaust manifold so evaporated immediately as well.
Eventually found it by squeezing the top hose while stationary with a hot engine. _________________ Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Phil - Nottingham

Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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Check all hoses and clips carefully these cooling systems run at high pressure 15lbs and soon leak - hardened hoses will burst.
There is a steel water pipe under the inlet manifold in the valley - this corrodes from inside out leaving pits which eat their way through _________________ Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2 |
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VTMG
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 6
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Phil - Nottingham wrote: | Check all hoses and clips carefully these cooling systems run at high pressure 15lbs and soon leak - hardened hoses will burst.
There is a steel water pipe under the inlet manifold in the valley - this corrodes from inside out leaving pits which eat their way through |
I think I have found the leak-it is the heater valve-at least that is where the water is coming from. I've ordered another valve and will have a go at fitting it when it arrives.
Thanks for all the advice
Van |
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Phil - Nottingham

Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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A lot cheaper than dismantling the engine! _________________ Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2 |
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VTMG
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 6
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Phil - Nottingham wrote: | | A lot cheaper than dismantling the engine! |
One new heater valve and all seems well...
Van |
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