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were is my water going, maybe have a answer

3.4K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  Milpol  
#1 ·
I have seen many threads of this and other forums about mystery water loss just removed the R53 engine and look at what I found on the rear of the engine.

This core plug would of been under the exhaust manifold and its heat shield, it was not leaking as such but sweating water, but under pressure it could of been a leak,
when I jet washed the engine it punched right through it and making this hole so it was going to fail big time real soon.



God know how you would change it without removing the engine a ÂŁ300 job to replace a ÂŁ1 part. what a nightmare.

engine was a 2003 unit, never seen a modern engine blow a core plug, so check your anti freeze strength.

This may help resolve the weird water loss on another car.
 
#3 ·
Brings back memories of many a car I have owned back in the day. one would knock them out with a large flat blade screw driver and replace them with brass welch plugs instead of the coated steel ones.

If you drop the front subframe out, you can actually get to it without removing the engine, hopefully you replaced it with a brass one. They tend to corroded when you don't (or prior owners) don't maintain the correct coolant mixture (50/50), use incorrect correct coolant or even use plain water, don't do the required flush every few years.

Good find though ! well done and something I wouldn't have considered and from memory there may be one sitting behind the flywheel ! need to check some old photo's to confirm.