After three happy years with my supercharged S, I have discovered a very small coolant leak developing somewhere between the back of the valve cover/head and the firewall. After sitting from a decent drive, I will find about 3 or 4 tablespoons of coolant on the garage floor.

No idea where it starts, but I have been able to trace it from under the engine/transmission split, up the passenger's side near the ID tag and from there I have no idea where it starts. (cant get a good look or feel)

Q: Has there been any other problems reported with coolant leaks developing in this area?

Q: Whithout knowing (researched S2000 shop manual to no avail) what could there be on the back side of the head/block that could leak other than the head gasket?


The car has a Vortech, Hondata gasket, and a bunch of other "goodies" that probably is of no concern to this topic. I began driving it for the first time ever in cold weather this year and the car has just over 13k miles. (2002 AP1)

I have been running Prestone (claimed to be safe on aluminum engines) distilled water and water wetter for both engine and superchager aftercooler intil summer when I run only distilled water.


Any ideas guys?

 

Check the Hondata gasket. It can leak there and make its way down to where you see it.
Check the hoses to the oil cooler at the oil filter.
Know where the engine block heater gets installed? Check there. It's the right side engine coolant drain when flushing coolant.
If you use only distilled water in the summer (with no corrosion protection) you may have some corroded joint or seam someplace.
It may not be coming from your engine at all. Check the heater hoses, heater hose valve (near the battery) and the upper coolant line on the firewall (metal tube with bleeder cap).

 

What Xviper said to check.

Don't run distill water only. You need some coolant for lubrication and anti-corrosion purpose.

 

Thanks guys. As usual, you make up a great portion of knowledge found on this site.

I have my work cut out trying to track this down and thanks to you I at least have a direction.

Also thanks for the heads up on coolant composition.

 

Im having the same problem... I've traced it to the heater hose right behind the valve cover.. does anyone know how i would go about replacing the hose?

 

most likely the hondata gasket..

i get sporadic leaks as well and will be replacing the intake manifold bolts with loctited bolts

 

exactly right.. it was the hondata IMG.. what a POS...

 

what is your fix?

 

replacing the gasket with an OEM one unless you have a better idea



(seriously, im open to ideas)

 

^
loctite on the bolts to keep them from loosening.

that has been the general consensus fix proposed several years ago without complaints of failure as a fix.