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348 Slow Coolant Leak

Discussion in '348/355' started by mj_duell, Mar 26, 2009.

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  1. mj_duell

    mj_duell Formula 3

    Nov 20, 2004
    1,421
    S. Glastonbury, CT.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #26 mj_duell, Mar 28, 2009
    Hi Gary,
    I'm glad that we can work on this at the same time. I thought I was going a little nuts ;). Good luck!

    --Mike
     
  2. G.Simpson

    G.Simpson Karting

    Mar 31, 2008
    103
    Alberta, Canada
    Full Name:
    Gary Simpson
    #27 G.Simpson, Mar 28, 2009
    Mike, I have used the dye tracing before, but I did not own the kit myself. I used it to check for external head gasket leaks, oil or coolant. Works very well. I don't know if leaving the dye in the system would harm anything. The dye treatment will be a last resort for me.
    Gary
     
  3. mj_duell

    mj_duell Formula 3

    Nov 20, 2004
    1,421
    S. Glastonbury, CT.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #28 mj_duell, Mar 29, 2009
    I FOUND IT! I ran the car and waited four hours, checking every 1/2 hour. When the dripping started I went to work looking at everything starting at the top of the engine. I just caught sight in my exstendable mirror of what appeared to be leakage near the water pump inlet at the bottom, the curved pipe on top of the water pump. The hose coming from the firewall pipes hides the bottom of the pipe when it's pushed all the way back. I managed to get a finger jammed in there and sure enough that was it. Any pressure or heat will swell the gap so there is no leakage, even from start-up. It had gotten down to 48 in the garage when the leak started. This was very hard to see and it was only chance that I saw it. The hose will hide the leak from sight and the drip will travel down the water pump housing making it look like you have a very bad issue. It is very deceptive because the thermostat housing and hose are dry making you think the leak is lower. I can duplicate the leak and I made sure to dry up the leak first and then wait to see if it reoccurred in the same spot, it did. I have retightened the hose clamp to what I consider very tight. I will check back soon.

    --Mike
     
  4. Lucky355F1

    Lucky355F1 Rookie

    Apr 23, 2008
    36
    Bridgewater, NJ
    Full Name:
    Jeff
    #29 Lucky355F1, Mar 29, 2009
    My 98 355 just started to have this problem too. A small puddle under it when it sits overnight in the garage. I would be vey interested to see what you find out on yours.
     
  5. mj_duell

    mj_duell Formula 3

    Nov 20, 2004
    1,421
    S. Glastonbury, CT.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #30 mj_duell, Mar 30, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Confirmed as of this morning. No drops under the car! It was the hose clamp and hose constriction that caused the leak and it was hidden very well. This leak mimics a leaky water pump on a 348 by location, so it is another good place to look first. The reason this is hard to find is that the slow leak drips from the very back edge of the hose which is pushed all the way in. The leak travels under the hose and then down the water pump and behind the timing covers. Inspection of the hose and the adjacent hose and thermostat hosing came up dry making it look like the leak is lower. One other thought, do to the location of the pipe and hose end, it would seem that area is bathed in heat for a long period of time after shut down. This would support the delayed leakage timeline and the cooling/leakage effect taking up to 5 hours to show itself.
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  6. agnello11

    agnello11 Karting

    May 27, 2008
    81
    #31 agnello11, Mar 30, 2009
    Excellent, glad you found it and got it sorted.
     
  7. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Mar 21, 2005
    15,291
    FL / GA
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    Bill Tracy
    #32 BT, Mar 30, 2009
    Good work finding the problem!
    Now enjoy the drive!!!
    :)
    BT
     
  8. MarkJ

    MarkJ Formula Junior

    Sep 10, 2006
    729
    NW Arkansas
    Full Name:
    Mark Jones
    #33 MarkJ, Mar 30, 2009
    I'll bet you're breathing a sigh of releaf. Its not often you can repair a Ferrari at no cost.
     
  9. mj_duell

    mj_duell Formula 3

    Nov 20, 2004
    1,421
    S. Glastonbury, CT.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #34 mj_duell, Mar 30, 2009
    That's an under statement. I was really thinking I was about to spend the rest of my spring F-Carless and would have to spend a lot of time and money on the water pump. I did dodge a bullet I guess.

    --Mike
     
  10. G.Simpson

    G.Simpson Karting

    Mar 31, 2008
    103
    Alberta, Canada
    Full Name:
    Gary Simpson
    #35 G.Simpson, Apr 1, 2009
    I have been very busy at work this week but last night I began tightening all the hose clamps. I think the problem was the hose clamp the secures the small hose from the expansion tank to the upper rad pipe. When I tried to tighten it, it took about 1/2 turn and felt like it slipped a tooth. I could twist the hose a little by hand, and when I did I could see a very slight amount of glycol seepage, even though it really wasn't that loose. I could not find a high quality hose clamp in such a small size so I used a hose clamp that is normally used on fuel lines for higher pressure such as fuel injection. I replaced all four of those small hose clamps. I also found the thermostat outlet hose clamp to be slightly loose, but even that took only about 3/4 turn to be fully tightened. I did not want to go too tight for fear of stripping that one too. I am not done putting everything back together, last night was late and I was too tired. I will try to put it back together today, start it and bring it up to temperature and check it again tomorrow. Hopefully I will not find any drops of coolant on the spill pads. I'll let everyone know what I find out.
    Gary
     
  11. G.Simpson

    G.Simpson Karting

    Mar 31, 2008
    103
    Alberta, Canada
    Full Name:
    Gary Simpson
    #36 G.Simpson, Apr 3, 2009
    Well I finally got around to checking the car today and NO LEAKS!!!! I started it again, let it warm up, and parked it back in the garage. I will double check again tomorrow.
    When I first checked the subject hose clamp, the little one that goes to the expansion tank, not only could it not be tightened, but when I got it off, it was not round. It was oval. A simple hose clamp replacement, I hope that did it!
    Gary
     
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