Elan SE Turbo question
Discussion
Hi folks
Quick question for anyone who knows the Elan SE Turbo (eg. smeagol, elanturbo, etc)
I noticed today that there is a leak of some sort of fluid from an area roughly under the driver's side headlamp pod. It could be coolant or a very light oil / fluid of some sort as it feels slightly greasy when you have it on your fingers and rub them together.
When I say under the headlamp, I mean I noticed a damp patch on the tarmac under the car in roughly that position, and the underside of the car in that area was wet with the fluid.
Does anyone have any hints or ideas as to what it could be and what I should look for to fix it?
Cheers
Jon
(smeagol - any chance of adding an email address to your profile so I can mail you direct please?)
Quick question for anyone who knows the Elan SE Turbo (eg. smeagol, elanturbo, etc)
I noticed today that there is a leak of some sort of fluid from an area roughly under the driver's side headlamp pod. It could be coolant or a very light oil / fluid of some sort as it feels slightly greasy when you have it on your fingers and rub them together.
When I say under the headlamp, I mean I noticed a damp patch on the tarmac under the car in roughly that position, and the underside of the car in that area was wet with the fluid.
Does anyone have any hints or ideas as to what it could be and what I should look for to fix it?
Cheers
Jon
(smeagol - any chance of adding an email address to your profile so I can mail you direct please?)
My first guess would be coolant (ie radiator) or oil filter and not turbo-oil related as that is on the right hand side of the engine bay as you look at it from the front. I used to hate finding leaks as they are a git to find, and I never got one on my Elan so its definately not normal (I'm sorry to say). My advice is to dry it as much as possible and see if it gets damp and trace it back to source.
Have you tried the obvious ie checking levels of all liquids to see if any is particularly low?
BTW I've sent you my email address using the message system. If you don't get it let me know.
Smeagol
Have you tried the obvious ie checking levels of all liquids to see if any is particularly low?
BTW I've sent you my email address using the message system. If you don't get it let me know.
SmeagolWhen you say the air filter cannister, do you mean the airbox to the inlet manifold? This is to the right as you face the car with the bonnet open.
The area I'm seeing the leak on is on the left as you look at the front of the car, just inboard of the front of the front driver's side wheel (UK RHD car, that is).
I'll have a good look tonight when I get home.
Cheers!
Jon
The area I'm seeing the leak on is on the left as you look at the front of the car, just inboard of the front of the front driver's side wheel (UK RHD car, that is).
I'll have a good look tonight when I get home.
Cheers!
Jon
It could well be coolant. Funnily enough it is in the same place as I had a coolant leak on my Chimaera, but obviously that's just coincidence.
My first guess was coolant, but it smells slightly oily and is slightly slick if you rub it between your fingers.
I can't go and check more as Cosmic has the car - I met her for lunch today and noticed the damp patch under the car when we walked back to the cars.
Obviously I checked that the patch was fresh and then felt the underside of the car above the patch to confirm it was coming from the car and it is.
I'll have a good look tonight, probably by the light of an inspection lamp as its getting darker earlier these days.
My first guess was coolant, but it smells slightly oily and is slightly slick if you rub it between your fingers.
I can't go and check more as Cosmic has the car - I met her for lunch today and noticed the damp patch under the car when we walked back to the cars.
Obviously I checked that the patch was fresh and then felt the underside of the car above the patch to confirm it was coming from the car and it is.
I'll have a good look tonight, probably by the light of an inspection lamp as its getting darker earlier these days.
quote:Cheers - I suspected as much.
Can only come from the radiator or intercooler.
quote:Well, I've heard anyway. Having only had the car for about a week I haven't really had need to delve too deeply into the mechanicals yet!
cos theres not much room underneath as you will well know.
Uggh, sorry there, assumed LHD. I had several gaskets that had to be replaced at my B+C maintenance, possibility that might be the case. I'll look into further.
BTW Have you checked on www.lotuselancentral.com? It has proved to be a very valueable resource for Elans.
>> Edited by Supernaut on Wednesday 18th September 19:58
BTW Have you checked on www.lotuselancentral.com? It has proved to be a very valueable resource for Elans.
>> Edited by Supernaut on Wednesday 18th September 19:58
Well, the pieces of the jigsaw are starting to come together.
I had a good look under the car and have confirmed a leak of some sort of fluid from the area I mentioned before.
Earlier in the day I sent an email off to the previous owner for advice, and from looking at the workshop manual and his own Elan S2 (with which he replaced the SE Turbo he sold me) he has suggested the prime suspect is the oil cooler or an oil cooler pipe or pipe connection.
This makes some sense. The fluid is slick and greasy so is a light oil of some sort. Could well be engine oil although it is thin and almost colourless. However, I believe the car is currently running on UK-spec 0W-40 Mobil 1 which is very thin and light-coloured. The oil level is also fairly low which would again point to an engine oil loss of some sort. I have some Mobil 1 from when the TVR ran on it (it now runs on thicker Castrol GTX Magnatec which it seems to be
very happy with) so I will top it up and see where we go from there.
Looks like its time for me to finally invest in a trolley jack and some axle stands!
I had a good look under the car and have confirmed a leak of some sort of fluid from the area I mentioned before.
Earlier in the day I sent an email off to the previous owner for advice, and from looking at the workshop manual and his own Elan S2 (with which he replaced the SE Turbo he sold me) he has suggested the prime suspect is the oil cooler or an oil cooler pipe or pipe connection.
This makes some sense. The fluid is slick and greasy so is a light oil of some sort. Could well be engine oil although it is thin and almost colourless. However, I believe the car is currently running on UK-spec 0W-40 Mobil 1 which is very thin and light-coloured. The oil level is also fairly low which would again point to an engine oil loss of some sort. I have some Mobil 1 from when the TVR ran on it (it now runs on thicker Castrol GTX Magnatec which it seems to be
very happy with) so I will top it up and see where we go from there.
Looks like its time for me to finally invest in a trolley jack and some axle stands!
Bought a trolley jack and a pair of axle stands over the weekend and had a very good look under the car.
I'm convinced its a coolant leak now. The fluid is definitely not oil. Also the header tank was bone dry!
This is now filled up and is showing a slow loss which seems to confirm it.
I think the low oil level was a red herring, although something to watch as the previous owner swears he had a full oil change only 200 miles before I bought the car.
Going back to the coolant loss - it is coming from the area of the lower raditor hose connection, yet this is dry as are all the other connectors round there. I simply can't locate the leak and am wondering if perhaps the radiator is holed somewhere.
I'm getting to the end of my ability now and may have to get someone to look at it. So does anyone have any recommendations for a good independant Lotus specialist in the Hampshire / Berkshire / Surrey area?
I'm convinced its a coolant leak now. The fluid is definitely not oil. Also the header tank was bone dry!
This is now filled up and is showing a slow loss which seems to confirm it.
I think the low oil level was a red herring, although something to watch as the previous owner swears he had a full oil change only 200 miles before I bought the car.
Going back to the coolant loss - it is coming from the area of the lower raditor hose connection, yet this is dry as are all the other connectors round there. I simply can't locate the leak and am wondering if perhaps the radiator is holed somewhere.
I'm getting to the end of my ability now and may have to get someone to look at it. So does anyone have any recommendations for a good independant Lotus specialist in the Hampshire / Berkshire / Surrey area?
I can't recommend anoyone Jon as both of service people I used were dealers. One I used to recommend but they were expensive and I'm not convinced that I haven't been ripped off by them a couple of times (ie things done a service early)
A short note about oil. I found they the Elan did use some oil esp. if the car was pushed a bit. I asked the garage and they said that the oil loss was nothing major and that it was normal. I found on average it was about a half litre per month (900miles) of everyday driving but I always checked it prior to long journeys. NB don't forget you're supposed to let the car run a little (2 mins) after a fast run so that the turbo doesn't boil the oil.
A short note about oil. I found they the Elan did use some oil esp. if the car was pushed a bit. I asked the garage and they said that the oil loss was nothing major and that it was normal. I found on average it was about a half litre per month (900miles) of everyday driving but I always checked it prior to long journeys. NB don't forget you're supposed to let the car run a little (2 mins) after a fast run so that the turbo doesn't boil the oil.
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