K4M Oil leak, thermostat housing?

[Jakey92]

Hi all, I seem to have developed a small oil leak on my car. It is only a little drip here and there but I want to find out what could be the cause. I have read somewhere on a forum that these Thermostat housings have some oil passing throught them and it has been known to leak slightly. One fix was to just tighten up the bolts but that doesn't seem to be the case with my car.

Has anyone experienced this problem and how did you fix it? Also does anyone think it could be something else? I have considered the caps on the side of the engine but I don't it's them. From what I can see it is on the Near Side of the engine just above the gearbox (hence thinking Thermostat housing) but there is limited room to maneuver due to the position of the ECU/Battery and the Air Intake.


Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[morgam23]

My car suffered this 3 months ago.
Your thermostat housing is connected to a metal water housing. Between the metal water housing, there is a gasket between it and where it connects to the engine. If this goes bad, oil begins to leak into the chambers where the coolant passes. A symptom of this is an oily substance in the coolant bottle.

It is an easy fix once you have the right tools.

 

[Jakey92]

How did you fix it? And luckily it's not passing into the coolant, I think it is just leaking out externally

 

[Sean6545]

Normally it's the plastic type that fails. I believe yours has the metal type.

 

[Jakey92]

Normally it's the plastic type that fails. I believe yours has the metal type.

Plastic thermostat housing? Mine is plastic, so it must be that which has failed

 

[Sean6545]

No, I mean plastic heat exchange that is bolted on the side of the head.

 

[Jakey92]

No, I mean plastic heat exchange that is bolted on the side of the head.

Oh, you can tell I'm not very technically minded lol. Does anyone have a pic/link of what needs replacing?

 

[morgam23]

Oh, you can tell I'm not very technically minded lol. Does anyone have a pic/link of what needs replacing?

Best bet is to replace the plastic housing with the aluminium one. Last longer. You will have to change the thermostat as the one in the plastic housing is molded on whilst the one for the aluminium housing can be changed separately.
I think the position of the temperature sensor is changed as well.

 

[morgam23]

 

[Jakey92]

Many thanks for that, I'll keep a look out for a replacement then

 

[morgam23]

Many thanks for that, I'll keep a look out for a replacement then

You can talk to West Renault on here or check a scrap yard over there to get one.
I hope this helps.

 

[lucas1233]

You can talk to West Renault on here or check a scrap yard over there to get one.
I hope this helps.

I have the one on the right, im leaking oil and it's mixing with the water. Should I just replace the seal or are they known to crack ?
​Cheers

 

[morgam23]

I have the one on the right, im leaking oil and it's mixing with the water. Should I just replace the seal or are they known to crack ?
​Cheers

The gasket could be leaking or the bolts were not torqued properly.
​

 

[MicKPM]

Go with the gasket first mate, its cheaper than the full housing and normally this... Drain the coolant off first though.

Mick

 

[finch wxm]

I've got a new gasket for mine as i have same issue .

can somebody tell me torque values .

One of tr bolts doesn't want to tighten very well !

is there some form of sealant you can use in conjunction with the gasket ?

 

[bloke]

Off the top of my head its 12nm, could be wrong though. I use stagg wellseal.