For coolant to get that far up, I would suspect it's leaking from the water pump and then being thrown around under the covers by the timing belt. I seem to remember the pump has a weep hole in the casting halfway along the neck which the shaft fits into. So if the pump water seal is leaking it'll drip down onto the crank pulley and the belt.

Do you know how old the water pump is? They're generally worth changing with every second timing belt change.

 

Thanks for your reply, the previous owner changed the water pump (I’m not sure when though, probably 2 or more years ago).
Also, I don’t know if this makes a difference but it leaks a very large amount, the alternator is covered in coolant and there is a very big puddle just from revving it a few times.

 

It does sound like it's a water pump failure from what you've described.Whether that has allowed overheating and a subsequent headgasket failure to explain the white smoke is a separate issue. The smoke would be pretty obviously coolant, check the rad and oil filler caps to see if the fluids are mixing to rule it out. Condensation and excess fuel could also explain the smoke.

A headgasket wouldnt likely piss that much coolant out of the engine bay, more into the cylinders and out the exhaust. A failued water pump however would.

 

A failued water pump however would.

OR...

a failed 'O' ring seal where the standard thermostat manifold fits to the cylinderhead

Rich.

 

At times like this, I consult the oracle.

Apparently they're all (Mk1, 2 and 2.5) o ring

 

Good to learn, cheers

 

I had a neck failure on one car and the metal T pipe failed on another one.
Both resulting in rusty water being sprayed around by the cam belt.

 

Just started to take everything apart and can see coolant on the timing belt, I’ve ordered a new water pump and timing belt kit Does this confirm the water pump failure?

 

break out the pressure washer, jeeves!

 

Take the big black 3 bolt pully off. Any play in the shaft behind that will confirm waterpump.
Lots of youtubes to guide you. You can roughly lock the cams with x2 spanners on the cams and a few camble ties. Once all timed up with new belt. Put crank bolt in and run around x2 revolutions to check timing marks.

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