Hey guys, '87 325i. Just did a fresh top end rebuild replacing literally everything. When coming home from work, my car has a coolant trip coming from the back of the motor. It seems to leak only when the car is warmed up and running. It doesn't leak while the car is sitting, except right after being shut off after a drive. The car doesn't overheat and I don't have coolant in my oil. The overflow reservoir level drops about a half an inch when I notice this happening. Everything is new including radiator, hoses, hose clamps, all gaskets including throttle body heater, my water pump is within its service interval, just had the head redone including a pressure test. Hose clamps are ALL super tight. It didn't leak coolant before being torn down. Freeze plugs look okay. The leak seems to be coming from behind the head where that metal hose is that connects to the heater core return hose. You can see coolant dripping down along the transmission where it connects to the motor, up top where the head mating surface is, but when I put my hand behind the head under that metal pipe to feel around for coolant, what I feel is a somewhat oily filmy kind of texture. Not clean but also not wet like coolant would be. I'm leaning toward that gasket being fucky but idk. Anyone have any advice?
It not so much of a bitch for me to replace that since I redid my firewall insulation with thinner stuff and it's recently clean. I installed all that stuff about a year ago and have been working on suspension, rust repair, lots of other shit in the meantime so I don't remember but I don't think I used RTV on that seal. If I end up redoing it I think I'll put some on. Am I supposed to RTV it?
Pic for encouragement
It not so much of a bitch for me to replace that since I redid my firewall insulation with thinner stuff and it's recently clean. I installed all that stuff about a year ago and have been working on suspension, rust repair, lots of other shit in the meantime so I don't remember but I don't think I used RTV on that seal. If I end up redoing it I think I'll put some on. Am I supposed to RTV it?
Pic for encouragement
Comment