coolant loss...

[Foxfan88]

ok every once in a while my check coolant light will come on. I cant figure out whats happening, my car doesnt leak anything and i am pretty sure it doesnt burn it ( sure as hell hope not). But it seems like its a slow loss and it happens maybe once a month....

any other ways to lose coolant??

 

[srothfuss]

Coolant can escape in two common areas:
Heater core (should be replaced every 60,000 miles or so)
Head Gasket (failures result from poor tuning and forced induction)

Have you checked to see if your water pump is leaking? Maybe your overflow bottle has a hole in it? DO you notice any puddles under the car?

 

[Foxfan88]

nope no puddles or leaks of any kind

 

[iskwezm]

replace the low coolant sensor.

 

[Foxfan88]

but the thing is i think it is low, i havent really got a good look at it yet, but before i put some in, the car was fully up to temp and the level in the overflow jug was in the bottom part of the jug ( under that little skinny part of the jug)

 

[ECU5.0]

than fill it up and see if you have the problem anymore

 

[Foxfan88]

its done it once before. i filled it up and it came on today

 

[ECU5.0]

well than you are losing it somewhere. does the car run hot? it could be boiling out. replace the cap, and see what happens

 

[BLADDER92FOX]

I have a similar problem,but mines loses coolant quicker though. What a pain in the ass this is huh?

 

[25thmustang]

So much for the car running great and not leaking anything...

Mine has started to develope a water pump leak. Sometimes the leak can occur slowely, or only when the cars running around. Mine wont leave a puddle but will lose a lot of water (I dont run antifreeze). Not too long ago it really went and was puking all over a parking lot. That could be your issue!

 

[slo65]

i noticed a slow leak, i'd have to top up coolant once a week or so, then while on the freeway my water pump went out, coolant went everywhere, towed it home, replaced the water pump/gasket/thermastat/radiator cap, no problems so far

 

[89lxsport50]

Put a pressure tester on it and look for leaks. If you don't find it, check the throttle body/egr spacer gasket. It is a common leak area. I just replaced mine. Check around the outside of it for moisture, check the valve cover to see if it has a spot on it directly beneath the throttle body. Also open the butterfly on the tb and shine a flashlight into the intake look for coolant in there. There was a puddle of coolant in my upper intake.

 

[srothfuss]

Put a pressure tester on it and look for leaks. If you don't find it, check the throttle body/egr spacer gasket. It is a common leak area. I just replaced mine. Check around the outside of it for moisture, check the valve cover to see if it has a spot on it directly beneath the throttle body. Also open the butterfly on the tb and shine a flashlight into the intake look for coolant in there. There was a puddle of coolant in my upper intake.

Ah! I never thought of that one. Good advice....

OK Fox, spend some time looking under the hood with this list and you will probably find your leak. Good luck and let us know what you find so we can help you fix it.

 

[1991vert]

i have a slow coolant leak after my h/c/i swap. it puddles on top of the timing cover. it's annoying. car doesnt run any hotter though. i dont even look at the low coolant light anymore. is this a common problem? pooling on the timing cover, passengerside, underneath the alternator bracket/waterneck.

 

[darthcual]

I'm with ecu, replace the cap if you cannot find a leak, the cap may not be working properly anymore. And for the record, running just water is a very bad idea. I'm sure 25th you have a good reason for it but coolant acts as an anti-corrosive agent and also lubricates the water pump.

 

[Whytry91]

A couple years ago, I had the same thing happen, I kept loosing coolant but couldn't findout where, turns out the "weep" or Weap" hole on the water pump was dripping slowly enough that when it hit the block it would evaporate.... I'd check your pump becaue it will let you know when you least expect it

 

[ForgedRod]

I often notice a coolant leak under my car

 

[Euphoric306]

yea 25th, elaborate on this, or we might see another thread titled "new water pump on my rebuilt engine froze up, should i have used antifreeze?"

 

[Foxfan88]

i put antifreeze in it

 

[BLADDER92FOX]

Thats whats going on with my car: pooling on the timing cover, passengerside, underneath the alternator bracket/waterneck.