Where is my coolant going???
#1
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Location: Northeast Ohio
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Where is my coolant going???
I've had to fill up my coolant 3 times over the last 2 weeks. I'm not seeing anything on the driveway to indicate a leak. Thoughts??
#3
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Or its exiting via combustion chambers and exhaust. :-P Either way one of the head gaskets would be a likely candidate... out and hitting the headers or into a cylinder, quickly vaporizing either way.
#4
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You may have an internal leak of your head gasket. This has happened to me before and had me stumped. As it got worse, I noticed that coolant was being pushed out of the overflow hose of the reservoir since the cooling system was being pressurized by the combustion chambers.
Get a cooling system pressure tester hooked up and pump it up to about 12 psi. If you see the pressure go down on the gauge, but no leaks externally, that is not a good sign.
Has your car overheated before?
Get a cooling system pressure tester hooked up and pump it up to about 12 psi. If you see the pressure go down on the gauge, but no leaks externally, that is not a good sign.
Has your car overheated before?
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#8
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No overheating is a good sign. Can you pull the airbox off and check at the back of the engine? A leaking heater valve is also a likely culprit for mystery coolant loss. However, you would probably smell it inside while driving too, if it is leaking.
#9
Team Owner
the two most likely sources are,
The top of the passenger side radiator tank it can leak and evaporate all at once,
look for white crusty deposits on the tank surface of the fins of the radiator front or back.
Next the heater control valve and or short hose, also check the block off plate and the HCV outlet for weeping at the gaskets.
What is the condition of the coolant bottle does it have any cracks in it?
Has the coolant cap been replaced recently?
Do you see any tell tales coming down the center of the top of the oil pan,
this is a water pump leak.
Are the coolant clamps tight at the water bridge and the radiator?
The top of the passenger side radiator tank it can leak and evaporate all at once,
look for white crusty deposits on the tank surface of the fins of the radiator front or back.
Next the heater control valve and or short hose, also check the block off plate and the HCV outlet for weeping at the gaskets.
What is the condition of the coolant bottle does it have any cracks in it?
Has the coolant cap been replaced recently?
Do you see any tell tales coming down the center of the top of the oil pan,
this is a water pump leak.
Are the coolant clamps tight at the water bridge and the radiator?
#13
Rennlist Member
I had the same issue. Turned out to be a small leak at the water bridge where it mounts to block. Suprising amount of loss from a slow seep. Look for white crusties.