coolant leak

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
ferrarfr
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:35 pm
Your car is a: 1974 fiat 124 spider
Location: Bayfield, Ontario Canada

coolant leak

Postby ferrarfr » Sat Aug 06, 2016 10:17 pm

Hi there, I just recently spent a considerable amount of money fixing my 74 spider i.e. new carburetor and breather, new muffler, bearings and seal for the distributor, tires and a few other things all at different times but all within a few months. I got maybe 300 km on it and when I got in the driveway I see antifreeze pouring down from the middle of the car near the transmission. From what I could see from putting on ramps I was unable to trace it to exactly where it was coming from except it seemed to come from behind the starter but I was unsure. Does anyone have any ideas as to where it could be. All hoses visible to me seemed to be fine in the engine compartment.
Any ideas would be appreciated

76was124
Patron 2019
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Posts: 620
Joined: Sun May 16, 2010 4:43 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Detroit Area

Re: coolant leak

Postby 76was124 » Sun Aug 07, 2016 7:58 am

I'm not familiar with the engine bay layout of a 74, but you may want to check the hoses to the heater core which should be near the top of the engine at the firewall. Leaks can travel strange paths. Maybe check the water pump area too.

Since antifreeze glows in the dark under a black light, that could help trace the source, although if it's pouring out, seems you wouldn't need that approach.
Current 81 Spider 2000
Previous 76 Spider

ferrarfr
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:35 pm
Your car is a: 1974 fiat 124 spider
Location: Bayfield, Ontario Canada

Re: coolant leak

Postby ferrarfr » Sun Aug 07, 2016 9:56 am

Thanks, I'm going to have another and longer look. I could have missed something.

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RRoller123
Patron 2020
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Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: coolant leak

Postby RRoller123 » Sun Aug 07, 2016 4:43 pm

The leak appearing just behind the starter might indicate that it is leaking from the head gasket corner just above.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

klweimer
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: coolant leak

Postby klweimer » Sun Aug 07, 2016 6:28 pm

Another possibility, although I'd say very unlikely, would be the plate on the back of the block that closes off the water jacket of the engine. It's almost impossibe to see, as it's right up against the firewall. Maybe with an inspection mirror. Someone mentioned a black light flashlight, which is a great way to see the track of the leak from the block. I've had one for years and can't tell you how handy it's been.
Kirk

dutchspiderrider
Posts: 24
Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 3:22 pm
Your car is a: 1970 BS1

Re: coolant leak

Postby dutchspiderrider » Fri Dec 29, 2017 9:50 am

@RRoller123

Kinda experiencing the same thing here. What was the outcome of it all??

TX82FIAT
Posts: 1814
Joined: Mon May 03, 2010 11:04 am
Your car is a: 82 Fiat Spider 2000 CSO
Location: San Antonio

Re: coolant leak

Postby TX82FIAT » Fri Dec 29, 2017 10:27 am

I would take a close look at the head gasket in the back towards the firewall. These can be very small and trickle down making it hard to trace the path of the coolant down the block or transmission. Clean the area between the head and the block. After clean look real close near each of the head bolts in particular the two back bolts on each side. I've had leaks so small that I could only tell by cleaning the area, ensuring it is dry and running through a couple cycles and then using tissue paper in the suspected area to see if a leak. Very small almost untraceable leaks in the head gasket are the early warning signs of an eventual head gasket failure. Look at freeze plugs as well. While unlikely, some of them will weep as well.
Buon giro a tutti! - enjoy the ride!

82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban

DieselSpider
Posts: 2130
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: coolant leak

Postby DieselSpider » Sat Dec 30, 2017 9:37 am

Have to consider too when the coolant was last flushed. If over two years the chances of having a failing freeze plug increases either from acid build up and rust or loss of freeze protection.


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