Hello All -

I have a 2014 Westfield S2000 that runs a 2001 Honda S2000 engine and trans. Just now I noticed that I have a very slow coolant leak on the exhaust side that appears to come from the interface between the block and head. It's right back between cylinders 3 and 4.

The engine has about 83,000 miles on it and I assume it's the original head gasket but I have no way to tell as I've only had the engine for the past 2 1/2 years and 7000 miles or so.

Have other seen leaks in this area? Am I right i assuming that it means I need a head gasket?

I've attached a photo of the car so you can get a feel for what a Westfield is - it's a modern version of a 60's-70's Lotus Seven and weighs a bit under 1300 lbs. Good fun.

Thanks in advance for your input and advice.

Dave

 

Pressure test your coolant system for leaks.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the reply.

I cleaned the area well and took the car out for a drive and it was once again wet in the same area confirming that there is a leak and the area it originates. I would assume it could only be the head gasket if for no other reason as there's nothing else there.

I'm not sure a pressure test will tell me more......unless I don't understand the reason for the test.

Thanks again,

dave

 

What kind of coolant are you using?

 

Orange Prestone brand. My local Honda guys said it would be fine. Was he wrong?

dave

 

Seems odd to me.
Advice:
Bore scope- look for a steam cleaned piston. I know u said only evidence is that it's actually seeping out the interface between the two.
Pressure test coolant system.
Cr test cylinders.
Is it smokin? Performance?
Sounds odd time and place to start leaking and if it was I would say it would be towards the piston.

Good thing is it looks super easy! To work on lol. side to side ease of access! Awesome whip.

 

Think you should use OEM Honda coolant. But, I don't think that is your current problem.

 

that makes good sense - when i get this sorted I'll switch to the Honda coolant.

dave

 

I had the car on the dyno just a few weeks ago and all was well and there was plenty of power and no smoke. In this car there is a really good view of the engine all around and it didn't show any signs of leaking and the coolant level stayed the same until this past weekend. I did a two day autocross this past weekend and it started sometime during the event.......but still no smoke and it's running very strong. The car is a dual-use car and I use it on the street for fun and I do about 15 days of autocross each summer so it spends a whole lot of time running at very high rpm's while fairly hot.

I agree that it might be a good idea to check it out with a scope and do a pressure test.......and at the same time it seems like the only place it can be leaking from is the head gasket so that it will need to be replaced. I don't know these engines well enough to say with 100% certainty that it's the head gasket but I can't see what else it could be.

Could it be something other than the head gasket? If so what might it be?

Thanks again -

dave

 

Was the head off recently? Have your retorqued the head bolts?