My Common Rail is terminal ?

[Hodge]

Well one of the dreaded CRD cancers took no exception to my patrol. It seems that way anyway ...
The same spot I reported a coolant leak a while back, now holds a dried out toothpaste like green/white residue. This if I'm not mistaken is coolant mixing with oil.

Original thread: http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...-leak-CRD-3-0L

Where it's leaking from is very hard to tell. I'm not that mechanically minded when it comes to this engine's anatomy. It seemed to have happened over the last 2-3 days. I had a couple of 45 minutes trips during these days in 34+ weather with air-con running. Maybe it's something to do with that I don't know. Engine didn't overheat or anything it's sat at it's usual half way mark.

I checked the oil (dip stick) and it's nice and clean no trace of any milkyness. Likewise with coolant I checked overflow bottles as well as in the radiator all seems fine and well topped up. One of my neighbours is a mechanic and although he doesn't work with diesels he doesn't believe it's oil/coolant as it wouldn't be this dry and crusty, although he can't say exactly what it could be.

Can somebody confirm that is the air-con compressor in the photo. Does that have anything in it that could leak out??

I'm not hoping somebody here has another idea about what it could be, but at this stage it's not looking good.

[nissannewby]

Yes it's you aircon compressor. It looks like a coolant leak mate as they leave a snail trail like that. I think the thermostats are on that side of the engine so it could be leaking from that area. ( not 100% on thermostat location as I haven't had a lot to do with crd's)

[Hodge]

Thanks for that reply mate! Definitely coolant, however last time it was nice and clean... This time it's dried out and white / powdery. Can coolant look like that after drying out ??

[Hodge]

( not 100% on thermostat location as I haven't had a lot to do with crd's)

To me it looks like it's right above the leak. Because the outlet coolant house is directly above.

[Stropp]

hodge, small amounts of dried coolant can look like that but if it is wet it will look green, i dont think it is terminal, easy way is check the oil as it will more likely be milky in the sump than leaking outside of the engine. if that makes sense, like newby i think just the thermo housing is leaking.

[oncedisturbed]

Aircon when it leaks can turn a different colour due to the dye that is put in it, as the others have mentioned, check all fluids

[gaddy]

Any chance of a Welch plug near by

[threedogs]

I'm thinking a loose hose clamp, easy enough to check
Patrol too new for welsh plugs Imo
What are you up to Thursday I'm going over your way

[nissannewby]

Thanks for that reply mate! Definitely coolant, however last time it was nice and clean... This time it's dried out and white / powdery. Can coolant look like that after drying out ??

Yes mate. It's a good tell tale that you have a coolant leak. If it was oil mixture then you would have an oily residue after the coolant evaporates. Also ac refrigerant leaves a residue similar to oil due the the lubricant that also runs through the system, unless it's a pin hole.

[Drew]

I'll defer to the experts but I don't think its terminal. It looks similar to the amount I had leak.

How's the coolant level ?