Fresh water coolant leak - Ford FSD engine

[pauldowrick]

My Ford FSD engine has a fresh water coolant leak. It is very low down as the coolant system needed almost 3 litres to top up. This amount of leak has taken almost 2 years, so it is not very fast, and is noticeable by small patches of pink fluid beneath the engine.
Have any of you FSD owners had a similar problem. How serious is it. And, are there any suggested fixes that don't involve taking the engine out.

 

[harvey38]

You Don say what age the engine is but to be honest, if it is leaking, it needs fixing as it will more than likely get worse. It could be an O ring, it could be corrosion but either way, if it let's go, it be at the most inconvenient time at the possibility of wrecking the engine.

 

[Plum]

My Ford FSD engine has a fresh water coolant leak. It is very low down as the coolant system needed almost 3 litres to top up. This amount of leak has taken almost 2 years, so it is not very fast, and is noticeable by small patches of pink fluid beneath the engine.
Have any of you FSD owners had a similar problem. How serious is it. And, are there any suggested fixes that don't involve taking the engine out.

Very very unlikely you will need to take the engine out. Recommend you make or invest in a coolant pressure tester so you can put the system under pressure without running the engine up to temperature. Give the whole engine and bilge a thorough clean then search for the leak and monitor the rate of pressure drop.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Tradewinds]

Paul, from your FB post I read you say the engine/boat has been unused for the last couple of years. Have you felt round your drain plug for a weep? I'd follow Plum's advice and do a pressure test. Look and feel for weeps on the lowest hoses.

 

[pauldowrick]

Very very unlikely you will need to take the engine out. Recommend you make or invest in a coolant pressure tester so you can put the system under pressure without running the engine up to temperature. Give the whole engine and bilge a thorough clean then search for the leak and monitor the rate of pressure drop.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Brilliant advice. Thank you so much. Sleepless night worrying about a massive bill approaching.