Coolant leaking...............
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Calgary AB
Coolant leaking...............
Hey Guys,
I have discovered that I have a coolant leak on the drivers side turbo, it is tough to see much under there but I think I have narrowed it down to the fitting on the top side of the turbo (Don’t know if this is the feed or return line). However I spoke to LPE and ordered some of the brass fitting/gaskets they put in there to do the job which should be here early next week.
I don’t think that will be too hard as they said the turbo does not need to be dropped out/down so I don’t have to mess with the oil lines, etc. however I am thinking since that would be the lowest point of the coolant system if I don’t drain the coolant it will siphon out once I remove that line……………any suggestions on a way around this? Or should I just bite the bullet and drain it all and flush while I am at it you figure?
I am also still debating on taking the easy route and getting the local performance shop to do the work!!
Thanks,
Tony2
I have discovered that I have a coolant leak on the drivers side turbo, it is tough to see much under there but I think I have narrowed it down to the fitting on the top side of the turbo (Don’t know if this is the feed or return line). However I spoke to LPE and ordered some of the brass fitting/gaskets they put in there to do the job which should be here early next week.
I don’t think that will be too hard as they said the turbo does not need to be dropped out/down so I don’t have to mess with the oil lines, etc. however I am thinking since that would be the lowest point of the coolant system if I don’t drain the coolant it will siphon out once I remove that line……………any suggestions on a way around this? Or should I just bite the bullet and drain it all and flush while I am at it you figure?
I am also still debating on taking the easy route and getting the local performance shop to do the work!!
Thanks,
Tony2
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,251
Likes: 4
Have you tried to snug the fit down a bit. Vibration is most likely the cause for the leak and the fitting may have just loosened up. If your TT has been on for a couple of years it may be a good time to change out the coolant anyway and since the turbo can remain in place, I'd just drain the radiator and swap out the fitting. But why bother if it's just loose.
I have the brass barbed ports and I wish I had just gone with a banjo bolt style before installing them. In order to remove these ports the turbo needs to be broken down. Future maintenance will be a real PITA.
I have the brass barbed ports and I wish I had just gone with a banjo bolt style before installing them. In order to remove these ports the turbo needs to be broken down. Future maintenance will be a real PITA.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Calgary AB
I tried snugging it, it is quite tight right now and to be honest I dont want to over tighten it and strip anything..............that would be a major pain then!!
Thanks for the info
Tony2
Thanks for the info
Tony2
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Calgary AB
Well I ordered some of the brass washers/gaskets from LPE and they showed up today, once UPS got through hosing me $34 worth of fee's for $20 worth of washers. 
I broke down and jacked the car back up for another shot at the leaking coolant............So after looking at it thinking what a pain in the rump it is going to be to have to drain all of the coolant to be able to remove this line from the turbo to replace the washers/gaskets, I quickly got over my fears of over tightening the bolt and went to town with a extension bar due to the limited amount of leverage under there………………probably only turned it another ¼ of a turn but it seemingly has done the trick!!! So good call “IM QUIKR” and thanks for the help!!
Tony2
I broke down and jacked the car back up for another shot at the leaking coolant............So after looking at it thinking what a pain in the rump it is going to be to have to drain all of the coolant to be able to remove this line from the turbo to replace the washers/gaskets, I quickly got over my fears of over tightening the bolt and went to town with a extension bar due to the limited amount of leverage under there………………probably only turned it another ¼ of a turn but it seemingly has done the trick!!! So good call “IM QUIKR” and thanks for the help!! Tony2
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,251
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by Tony2
probably only turned it another ¼ of a turn but it seemingly has done the trick!!! So good call “IM QUIKR” and thanks for the help!!
Tony2
Tony2
But now you're out $54. You're not alone, we've all done it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Calgary AB
**Update**
Well shortly after I thought I had this fixed, it sprung a leak again!! lol I am not sure if I caused it by over tightening or if it wasn’t really fixed when I thought it was!!
Took it to a local place that does a lot of work on Vettes here in Calgary (Davenport Motorsports) as I didn’t want to get half way into this job and find out it was beyond my means to fix and the vehicle be completely inoperable!! Needless to say they are busy as heck this time of the year but the owner Steve did me a good guy favor and squeezed me in.
They monkeyed with it for one afternoon trying to replace the washers as well with no luck (Keep in mind this is on the coolant line on TOP of the turbo and not the easiest to get to) So they took it all apart again and realized the actual line had a break in it.............So I call up LPE to see about that part, and they only sell it in a kit with the rest of the lines to the tune of $383 US!!
Then I had to order more of the metal crush washers, and overnight shipping due to the time frame and the shop doing me a favor as it is............just the parts an shipping came to approx $600 Canadian!!
So dropped of the parts first thing one morning, they had it ready to go late that afternoon..............worked me a bit of a deal and charged me for 4 hours labor even though they spent more than that monkeying around. So back on the road and leak free!!
So all said in done it was a $1000 coolant leak!! But what do you do I ha to get it fixed as the car is useless broke down on the side of the road overheated. So now I am back on the road and leak free!!
Tony2
Well shortly after I thought I had this fixed, it sprung a leak again!! lol I am not sure if I caused it by over tightening or if it wasn’t really fixed when I thought it was!!
Took it to a local place that does a lot of work on Vettes here in Calgary (Davenport Motorsports) as I didn’t want to get half way into this job and find out it was beyond my means to fix and the vehicle be completely inoperable!! Needless to say they are busy as heck this time of the year but the owner Steve did me a good guy favor and squeezed me in.
They monkeyed with it for one afternoon trying to replace the washers as well with no luck (Keep in mind this is on the coolant line on TOP of the turbo and not the easiest to get to) So they took it all apart again and realized the actual line had a break in it.............So I call up LPE to see about that part, and they only sell it in a kit with the rest of the lines to the tune of $383 US!!
Then I had to order more of the metal crush washers, and overnight shipping due to the time frame and the shop doing me a favor as it is............just the parts an shipping came to approx $600 Canadian!!So dropped of the parts first thing one morning, they had it ready to go late that afternoon..............worked me a bit of a deal and charged me for 4 hours labor even though they spent more than that monkeying around. So back on the road and leak free!!
So all said in done it was a $1000 coolant leak!! But what do you do I ha to get it fixed as the car is useless broke down on the side of the road overheated. So now I am back on the road and leak free!!
Tony2
