Split in coolant tank + blue smoke

[Jke11y]

I think pressing the pagoda into daily use from an unknown is pushing it a bit and bringing some issues to a head. All of them look likely to put paid to taking the car on holiday next week but maybe you guys can help me.

It had been running nicely but as a preventative measure put it into garage last week. Rocker cover was off and tappets were adjusted and the car given a once-over. New oil.

I noticed today for the last 3 or 4 miles of my journey it started chucking out a lot of blue smoke. Its slightly doing it at idle too.
It didn't do it before the oil change / additive was used to clear out the old.

I am thinking to take my 129 instead, as I am not sure I could get the tank leak fixed in time (I leave Tuesday morning).

Below are a couple of photos;

1) The coolant tank has a hole in it. I don't know if there is a temp fix for this that would last 1500miles. Its blowing little bubbles when hot. I just noticed this 20 mins ago.


2) the blue smoke issue. I checked the dipstick and to my non-expert eye it looks a bit over max; which surely wouldn't be helping the blue smoke situation... I checked it 5 mins after I stopped.

[jameshoward]

You'll need to get the coolant tank sorted properly. It's relatively easy, though. Any decent radiator shop will be able to braise the hole closed for you and pressure test it. Since you're in London you may even find a mobile repair person. Removing the tank is easy.

You should drain off some oil and see how the car is then. I personally don't like additives so have no experience of whether or not they can cause some smoking.

[Cees Klumper]

It's definitely overfilled with oil which I guess could explain the blue smoke - maybe. The fact that it was not doing this before the oil change is good, so hopefully it will take care of itself after draining the excess. Good luck and please keep us posted.

[Jke11y]

Thank you for the replies so far. I can drain off some oil, but don't really want to drive the car when the coolant tank has this pinhole.

So it looks like it will be impossible to get the tank fixed over the weekend and Monday is a bank holiday, and I will take it back into the garage when I get back.

[Jke11y]

Having just driven home from work in 8 miles of crawling traffic out of west London, it definitely is smoking more. Previously it didn't smoke atall so hopefully it won't be a huge fix.

Will park it up and get it fixed on our return from holiday.  Gutted that I can't go in the pagoda but if it broke down with my 7 month pregnant wife in the car it wouldn't be great.

[ejboyd5]

. . . it started chucking out a lot of blue smoke. It didn't do it before the oil change / additive was used to clear out the old.

What additive did you use?  The additive may be clearing out some residue that is creating smoke or may be so invasive as to be allowing oil to bypass the valve stem seals and enter the combustion chambers.  The pinhole leak is an unstressed area of tank and can be temporarly fixed with JB Weld (or its overseas equivalent) or even a smattering of epoxy until it can be properly brazed.

[Oisin]

You didn't use an engine flush and dislodged gunk which was quite happy where it was?

[Jke11y]

I spoke to the mechanic (who has 30+ years experience of these cars) but he's on holiday so can't look at it before I go.

He will fix it on my return, and he also said that the clean out might have removed whatever was previously happily perhaps masking a problem.

[jameshoward]

I spoke to the mechanic (who has 30+ years experience of these cars) but he's on holiday so can't look at it before I go.

He will fix it on my return, and he also said that the clean out might have removed whatever was previously happily perhaps masking a problem.

Overfilling won't help, but would be wary of flushing unless you need to. Some of the chemicals are quote potent, it seems, and these engines are old. If it ain't broke... .

I'd leave well alone and leave flushes on the shelf.

For what it's worth, I think it's probably best not to take the car. Personally, I would tend to disagree that any leak in the cooling system could be fixed with epoxy in anything but extremis. It is all under pressure and should be braised.

[Jke11y]

Agreed, I'll just have to look less cool but be more comfortable in the R129.