Help me find my coolant leak? (Pics)

[barki]

Hi all,

I've a 1.8 FR with the Gen3 EA888.

Sometimes when I pull up I can see steam (not loads) from the bonnet. Coolant is dropping but only very slowly.

Changing the oil today, I thought I'd hunt around to see if I could identify the location. I know that the waterpump is a likely culprit but I'm not going to just spend £300+ and take a days leave to change it only for it to turn out to be something else!


Strangely, I've noticed damp on TOP of the I let manifold. Maybe unrelated.

Some other possible areas....

This one, a coolant coloured drip of the injector rail, how would it get there?

Some residue on the oil pan..white...could that be coolant or is it road salt maybe? I don't think it's this one. But never seen white residue on an oil pan before, then again all my other cars have always had a smooth metal pan.

Could it be this coolant connection near the turbo, which I see from Google is common. It's such a hot area...no moisture there, but there is some crusty residue (but it's not G13 coloured!).

Underside of the waterpump looks OK to me? It's on 80k, I believe. 2018 car.

This coolant hose looks like a possibility? Maybe I could switch out that clamp for a stainless jubilee clip?

Last thing - my header tank was still the original 'mit silika', so I changed it for a brand new one (and new cap), without. Will see if it's still doing it later today, would be nice if the new tank/cap resolved it but I think it's unlikely.

Cheers in advance for anyone's help.

 

[barki]

P.S - I evidence of leaks on undertray!

 

[barki]

*Above meant "no evidence of leaks on undertray"

 

[James_R]

For the sake of future-proofing your vehicle, you'd be better off replacing the thermostat unit and water pump.

Both well know to leak on the EA.888

 

[nd-photo.nl]

I recommend replacing the coolant nipple with a billet version. Its not that hard and a good futureproof mod. I bought mine from Aliexpress, fitment is 100%

ND-Photo.nl 's - Seat Leon ST Cupra 280

Fixed a small oil leak, the hose from the PCV valve didnt seal that well anymore. Replaced both O-rings with new Nitril rings. I will probably buy a new hose somewhere in the future, as they are pretty cheap.

www.seatcupra.net

 

[barki]

Have already ordered one to fit at the weekend (I went for an OEM replacement tho - £16 delivered).....

Thanks, I'll be happy/lucky if it turns sour to be that and not the pump.

I realise that the pump will probably fail one day (if it hasn't already) but I'm busy dad with school age kids working full time with a dog and aging parents etc etc so I'll only take the time to do that if I really have too.

I do remember tho doing loads of preventative maintenance on my R5GTT back in the day. Replaced half of that car that didn't need replacing lol :-D

All the above said, I am still half expecting my leak to turn out to be the waterpump just from a spot I can't see. Still can't understand how a red coolant-like stain could appear right up above my injectors. Only just bought this car so it's history I do not know.