auzivision

See who can figure this out. It may have been going on for some time (or possibly more than one issue). Coming home from SITM 2016 I started overheating, pulled off and figured out I was low on coolant. Added a good size jug of drinking water. Notice a small leak of the passenger side end tank. Against conventional wisdom, I added some Bars stop leak. This appeared to fix leak.


Fast forward 14 months (12 spent in hibernation after a bad trip back from Hell), up and running leaving for Tennessee this weekend I notice reservoir was way low. Added a half gallon of 50/50 and drove 250 miles south. The dash gauge indicated it was slightly warm but not crazy… just approaching second line.


Next working, routine engine bay check. Low on coolant again? No signs of leaks, engine running fine, no puddles inside or out, exhaust looks fine. Fill again with other half of coolant, go for a drive up and down land between the lakes. Started overheating while idle cruising through Bison prairie park.


Refilled with water and notice some fluid on outside of reservoir. Inspected radiator cap and noticed rubber looks compromised. Drove to AutoZone in Paducah and purchased a generic 13 psi cap and another gallon of full strength antifreeze. Ran normal temp that night (around 40 miles around town and back to hotel). Too dark to inspect that night with sporting beer goggles.


Next morning, getting ready to drive back and guess what? Low on fluid again… new cap looks fine. Not a drop under the car. How could I go through two gallons of fluid in less than 48 hrs with no obvious signs of a major leak?






BTW... After taking a year or so off (some what busy somewhat frustrated)... I'm back in the saddle or uhhhh Shark again!
Almost like having a new toy!

Adamant1971

Pull your plugs. If it's not leaking out and not in the oil its likely being burnt.

My water pump started leaking some time before I noticed a puddle. Had to add a litre on a couple occasions. Then it started leaking real bad after SITM.

But 2 gal is a lot.

FredR

Sounds like it is pressure test time and then play "find the leak".

Hopefully it will be something silly.

soontobered84

Could be the heater core, could be the short hose at the back of the block, could be the weep hole in the water pump. Your pressure test will tell you.

James Bailey

And that may make YOU weep !!

worf928

And it could be a vapor leak from the portion of the cooling system that doesn't see fluid:
- top-half of reservoir and in particular the plastic junction for the part the cap screws onto
- coolant over-pressure switch
- the two tiny lines from the tank

You can loose a surprising amount of fluid from a vapor leak.

Pressure testing is the place to start.

auzivision

Ding, Ding, Ding... winner winner chicken dinner!

Leak on return line dispensing coolant onto exhaust manifold. One thing in common, every time I refilled was always before a long drive; hence, no remanence. Somewhat surprised I never saw steam, but am happy I found the culprit.

worf928

At speed, coolant vaporized by the manifold gets widely dispersed due to under-body air turbulence (or direct suction if you're running a proper under tray.)

SeanR

One thing I've noticed with using Zerex G-05, it makes finding these things very easy as it leaves a white residue behind, no matter where it is leaking.