EA81 Coolant leaks

[Stingrae]

Hello,

It's my first time here, I apologise for any mistakes made.

I bought a 1992 Brumby with 245,000k and it drives well but I've noticed a coolant leak that leads to the 'cross member', where the skid plate attaches, and also found a little on the water pump, which I will be replacing as soon as the parts arrive.


After buying a belt for what the air conditioning that I believe was added by the previous owned (he owned it since 1994), I took it for a drive doing 50km/hr for 5 minutes with the ac belt attached, and it was leaking minimally, but after parking up and turning the engine off it began leaking rapidly. I was unable to locate where it was leaking from exactly, but I expect it to be a head gasket.
The following is a photo of the area with the alternator and carburetor removed. The alternator was dry, so that coolant may be old, but i have no idea how it gets there.


I am new to the EA81, and don't see any way forwards than to take the heads off and see what's going on inside. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

From,
Daniel

[Stingrae]

This should work

[El_Freddo]

Welcome to the forum Stingrae!

I edited the pics in your second post - just needed to copy the image itself rather than the web address. The address/directory for each image is now a jpeg code and this did the trick.

Firstly, don’t touch the heads if you don’t have to - EA81s will leak coolant internally and make milky oil.

Looking at how much coolant you have and how it’s managed to get up on the bracket for the AC, I’m thinking you might have a pin hole in a hose that’s squirting/jetting it to places you usually don’t find it if it’s a weep that gravity directs.

If your water pump was leaking it’s usually from the hole under the shaft - this is when the shaft seal lets go.

For piece of mind I’d look at replacing all the rad/coolant hoses. Be careful of that device with the bolt in it that is in the line to the base of the carb. This is plastic and very brittle. I believe it’s a restrictor tap. Mine broke and I no longer run it, it doesn’t seem to affect anything other than maybe heating the base of the carb too much in summer. I should look into that actually.

And congrats on scoring yourself a brumby!

Cheers

Bennie

[Silverbullet]

+1 for a pinhole leak spraying coolant somewhere.

This steel pipe is especially prone to rusting through

[El_Freddo]

I was thinking about this today and it would be worth investigating for a blown head gasket with an exhaust gas detector thing that hangs in the radiator. Presence of exhaust gas = blown head gasket which would pressurise the cooling system. This still my not be the case but worth checking.

Also forgot to mention, that AC bracket is FACTORY! The AC pump hangs off the side of the engine like a really bad after thought!

I’ve got a wagon with a retro fitted AC pump mounted roughly in that same location, the welded up brackets tell the story of the addition quite easily…

Cheers

Bennie

[Stingrae]

Thanks for all the help,

It was the hose running to the restrictor tap. Both the hose and tap crumbled and it seems to be running fine without the tap. Looking at a parts manual, its a 'valve assy, thermo control valve', which prevents coolant flow to the carb until the coolant comes to temp. I believe it is supposed to prevent fuel freezing in the carb, but I'm sure it'll be fine in Brisbane.

I will be taking your advice and replacing the hoses, they all look 30 years old.

From,
Daniel

[Subyroo]

Thanks for all the help,

It was the hose running to the restrictor tap. Both the hose and tap crumbled and it seems to be running fine without the tap. Looking at a parts manual, its a 'valve assy, thermo control valve', which prevents coolant flow to the carb until the coolant comes to temp. I believe it is supposed to prevent fuel freezing in the carb, but I'm sure it'll be fine in Brisbane.

I will be taking your advice and replacing the hoses, they all look 30 years old.

From,
Daniel

Just don't go South or West during the Winter time.

[El_Freddo]

Glad it’s sorted Daniel!

Subyroo, my restrictor thingy hasn’t been fitted for many years and other than some pinging when running hot in summer in the heat, I don’t have any abnormal running issues. And that pinging I can’t be sure is due to this restrictor thing missing.

Cheers

Bennie