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Coolant leak into rocker cover

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Coolant leak into rocker cover
#1
wphun Avatar
wphun Mike Lukacevic
Pittsburgh, USA   USA
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1979 MG MGB "The MG"
Hey guys.

Barring a cracked head, where the hell does coolant seep into rocker cover? If it's a cracked shouldn't I at least see a tiny bead of liquid? Also ran a pressure test and loss was from the heater valve. It's sweet tasting.

It's not leaking in from either the thermo housing or the port at the rear.

No coolant in oil in sump or oil in coolant.

Just torqued the head bolts. Maybe this'll help.

Thx

Mike


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Re: Coolant leak into rocker cover
#2
ClayJ Avatar
ClayJ Silver Member Clay Johnston
Mt. Olive, MS, USA   USA
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1972 MG MGB
Definitely need to determine if you losing coolant. I would fix leaks and re-pressure test. There should be NO coolant leaks.

Are you sure you've ruled out condensation from short drives in cooler weather? (It takes 20-30 minutes open road running to clear moisture)

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Re: Coolant leak into rocker cover
#3
dickmoritz Avatar
dickmoritz Platinum Member Dick Moritz
Philly 'burbs, PA, USA   USA
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Only one of three ways:

> Crackhead (look especially closely in the vicinity of cylinder number 3, across the surface where the valve cover gasket sits, as well as atop the head from the valve cover gasket surface over to the intake valve spring seat...).

> Blown head gasket.

> You're adding antifreeze to the wrong hole... grinning smiley

Dick


Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
(Often wrong, but always certain)

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Re: Coolant leak into rocker cover
#4
wphun Avatar
wphun Mike Lukacevic
Pittsburgh, USA   USA
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1979 MG MGB "The MG"
This thing is run all the time. I've taken on tons of long drives.

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Re: Coolant leak into rocker cover
#5
wphun Avatar
wphun Mike Lukacevic
Pittsburgh, USA   USA
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1979 MG MGB "The MG"
In reply to # 3071758 by dickmoritz Only one of three ways:

> Crackhead (look especially closely in the vicinity of cylinder number 3, across the surface where the valve cover gasket sits, as well as atop the head from the valve cover gasket surface over to the intake valve spring seat...).

> Blown head gasket.

> You're adding antifreeze to the wrong hole... grinning smiley

Dick

I put anti freeze in all the holes. Damn.

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Re: Coolant leak into rocker cover
#6
ClayJ Avatar
ClayJ Silver Member Clay Johnston
Mt. Olive, MS, USA   USA
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1972 MG MGB
If you've ruled everything else out and your sure it's coolant in the valve cover, don't run it unit this is fixed. Even a small amount of coolant is a real bearing killer.

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Re: Coolant leak into rocker cover
#7
Ex-Calif Avatar
Ex-Calif Gold Member Dan D
Dayton, OH, USA   USA
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1968 MG MGB GT "Bart - Yellow And Naughty"
1977 MG MGB "Red Betty"
2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara "Suzi Q"
2012 Jeep Liberty "Tommy The Tank"
If coolant is getting into valve cover in any appreciable quantity it must end up in the oil sump - gravity sucks - unless it is so mild it is boiling out.

Long drive/short drive. The condensation is cool air condensating on a hot part. Hence the hotter the part and cooler (and more saturated the air) the more condensation you get.

Don't check it cold. Check it hot after a drive.

There are no cooling passages near the top of the valve cover - to get there it would have to spray there. Not likely.


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Re: Coolant leak into rocker cover
#8
Jim K Avatar
Jim K James A. Krasnansky
Liberty, KY, USA   USA
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1970 MG MGB GT "Chloe"
1971 MG MGB GT "Roscoe"
1972 MG MGB "Camilla"
My money's on head gasket. Try torquing it first. 45 - 55 ft/lbs.


Jim K is a grease-stained wretch

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Re: Coolant leak into rocker cover
#9
wphun Avatar
wphun Mike Lukacevic
Pittsburgh, USA   USA
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1979 MG MGB "The MG"
I retorqued to 50 lbs. We will see.

I changed the oil many times and have never found a DROP of anything besides oil in the sump. Same goes for the coolant. Clean. I'm not worried it's just puzzling. A real riddle.

Let me repeat: I've heard the short trip long trip story and the condensation issue.
Unless MG condensation is magically sweet we've got something else goin on :-)

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Re: Coolant leak into rocker cover
#10
HiPowerShooter Avatar
HiPowerShooter James Booker
Lake Winneconne, WI, USA   USA
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1973 MG MGB
Unless you live in the tropics(you don't) condensation rarely is an issue in an oft driven vehicle of ANY brand during ANY time of year. You've got bigger issues. Re-torquing won't do it now. If the head was loose enough to allow coolant...it's now blown.


"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions"--Alvin "Tex" Johnston...Boeing test pilot.

"Who do you think you are? I am."...Pete Weber

73 MGB. Tires: Round, black, hold air. Oil: Sometimes old, sometimes new...always slippery. Oil filter: Yellow, usually full of oil. Carbs: 2 SU HIF. Distributor: Yes. Headlights: Not that bright but bright enough. A bunch of other stuff most cars have but not really important enough to itemize. Oh, wait...it has a cool sounding exhaust with stickers on the chrome tips. Really slays the ladies...

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