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Any idea where this coolant leak can be coming from?
So car started steaming one day under the hood when warming it up. Popped the hood and it was coming from the turbo area but under the intake manifold area. Smelt like burning coolant. Tried looking for obvious leaks and couldn’t see any. Parked it for a week till I could take off the manifold to get a better look and all of a sudden it started leaking out of no where. Small drips but enough to pool on my floor.
I’ve looked at the obvious coolant lines that run to the turbo where the air pump used to sit but it’s dry. Upon further investigation I could see some dripping along one of the hard lines on the rear turbos (stock twins) Pic and video is from under the car facing the back of the turbos. Any ideas on what it could be? Before I tear off the twins and get a closer look to see where it’s coming from.
Last edited by isldr_fc; Jun 26, 2023 at 11:30 PM.
If you've isolated the leak to that pipe then you found the leak. Thats one of the coolant hard lines on the turbo. Rent a coolant pressure tester from the parts store and super verify that's where its coming from. It's the only thing in that area with coolant and the evidence seems to be obvious but do it anyway.
I have never seen a leak from the hardline itself or where it connects to the CHRAs. The leaks are always at one of the flared ends where it meets the rubber soft line and clamp. First time for everything but I would start at the soft to hard line connection points.
Bone dry up top. No signs of moisture. It’s coming from anywhere between the turbo and intake manifold where I can’t physically see. I just see drips coming off that hardline in the picture
Short of a pinhole, with it appearing to run from front to back, front turbo inner banjo or the soft line connection would appear to be the only 2 possibilities. Have seen an outer line very corroded internally up near the tee though.....japanese import engine, that mightn't ever had a coolant change!
One of the long established shops here makes a point of not using the oem softlines for those water circuits to the turbos for any of his customers.
Have seen an outer line very corroded internally up near the tee though.....japanese import engine, that mightn't ever had a coolant change
this is an imported FD and I’m assuming I was the first to do a coolant flush on it given how dark the coolant was and how many flushes it took to get it cleared out.
Top coolant line looks fine, both soft lines appear to be in good shape, no leaking. In the process of removing the turbos to get to the back of them. (DP was a PITA to remove) Which gaskets should I replace while I have the turbos off?
All 5 oil return gaskets, the 2 compressor outlet gaskets and the gasket under that plate on the outermost section of the turbos. The one that has the 2 long shoulder bolts running through it. I've seen that one go bad quite a few times and makes for a really nasty exhaust leak.
the 2 gaskets that go in-between the turbo and manifold are usually good and last seemingly forever. If you see them in not so good shape, you can replace those too. The downpipe gasket is typically a lifetime gasket. Never seen a bad one before.
also might as well change both hoses, N3A1-13-54X and N3A1-13-536.
and since you're there, if that still has the paper intake gasket (green), you should just do it while the turbos are off.
the crush washers for the coolant pipes are 9956-21-400, 14mm
and the oil is 9956-21-000, 10mm
I found a pin hole leak in this exact hard pipe. Impossible to find without taking the turbos off cause it looked like a leak from the entire exhaust area. Had to pressurize the pipe by looping hose and watching it bubble. I use to take hardlines as guaranteed good but not anymore. Corrosion is real.
All 5 oil return gaskets, the 2 compressor outlet gaskets and the gasket under that plate on the outermost section of the turbos. The one that has the 2 long shoulder bolts running through it. I've seen that one go bad quite a few times and makes for a really nasty exhaust leak.
the 2 gaskets that go in-between the turbo and manifold are usually good and last seemingly forever. If you see them in not so good shape, you can replace those too. The downpipe gasket is typically a lifetime gasket. Never seen a bad one before.
Originally Posted by j9fd3s
also might as well change both hoses, N3A1-13-54X and N3A1-13-536.
and since you're there, if that still has the paper intake gasket (green), you should just do it while the turbos are off.
the crush washers for the coolant pipes are 9956-21-400, 14mm
and the oil is 9956-21-000, 10mm
Appreciate your guys help! Good thing I’m like 30mins away from atkins rotary.
Those hardlines are old, not very thick, and see quite a bit of heat where they are located. Thanks for sharing that yours went bad, I've wondered how long mine will last each time I've had that part of the car apart.
Those hardlines are old, not very thick, and see quite a bit of heat where they are located. Thanks for sharing that yours went bad, I've wondered how long mine will last each time I've had that part of the car apart.
car was imported and has “56k miles” maybe it had to do with it corroding so fast?
No.... its normal. Yours are actually in really good shape
ok then. Lol good to know.
when putting the gaskets back in should I put rtv on them as well? When I was taking them apart it looked like some kind of white silicone around some of the gaskets except the oil drain lines.
All 5 oil return gaskets, the 2 compressor outlet gaskets and the gasket under that plate on the outermost section of the turbos. The one that has the 2 long shoulder bolts running through it.
where’s the 5th oil return gasket go? I’ve only seen 4, 2 per oil drain pipes.
The primary oil return is 2 peices. The part that bolts to the turbo use 2 and then the theres one more that goes between the pipe and the front cover. So there's 3 on the primary return and 2 on the secondary return
