Engine Losing Coolant For A Couple Years

95Vert383AOD · Sep 5, 2012

Yeah so my motor randomly loses coolant. Maybe 1/2 radiator every 100+ miles.

I cannot find the leak....even after a coolant pressure test that showed the motor wasn't holding pressure. (Slow leak down over maybe 5 minutes)

Oil looks fine. I don't see anything coming from the lower head bolts.

Is there any special way of tracing a leak without tearing the top half of my motor down "Just to be sure"? I use the very not so cheap 1006 head gaskets and would hate replacing $150 worth of intake and head gaskets if i can help it.

I need some old Shade tree tricks for finding leaks.

I was gonna try pulling the lower head bolts 1 by 1 and resealing them. While re-torquing them all to keep proper seal.

Thanks ahead
Chris

madspeed · Sep 5, 2012

more info. what setup? Whats been done to it? blow smoke or steam out the tsilpipes?

Sent from my rooted, rommed Galaxy Nexus....

95Vert383AOD · Sep 5, 2012

Its in the details. 351 stroked to a 383. Aluminum heads ARP 12 point w/studs. No smoke.....Starts right up and runs beautifully. I'm losing coolant somewhere but its not going into the oil or coming out the tail pipes. Ive looked around the pump and that looks fine too. I have had this issue for a while. I would rather not keep adding coolant.

I guessed that maybe its evaporating before i can see it.

srtthis · Sep 6, 2012

antifreeze really doesnt evaporate quickly... does it do it only under pressure or does it do it when the cars just sitting?

95Vert383AOD · Sep 6, 2012

srtthis said:
antifreeze really doesnt evaporate quickly... does it do it only under pressure or does it do it when the cars just sitting?

Both.... But if it sits it seems the radiator drops to about half full. While running it can lose everything. I first thought it was the radiator but couldn't find any leaks.

srtthis · Sep 6, 2012

half way sound right around the centerline of the water pump... any chance its got a slow leak ouf of the water pump and just a slow drip out the bottom of it?

95Vert383AOD · Sep 6, 2012

srtthis said:
half way sound right around the centerline of the water pump... any chance its got a slow leak ouf of the water pump and just a slow drip out the bottom of it?

Well i cant see anything from the top. Its all painted so maybe its traveling under the paint?

I am pulling the brackets off this weekend so i can inspect.
Do you think its maybe its coming threw the weep hole in the pump?

srtthis · Sep 6, 2012

the weep hole in the snout maybe or the weep holes in the timing cover... when it leaks out with otu running does any of it lay on the ground? maybe out of the back of the lower intake?

LX302 · Sep 6, 2012

Possibly it is dripping out the weep hole. Mine was recent leaking from the side of the gasket of the waterpump, putting in a little into the overflow for years. It was a wet on the side of the pump/timing cover. Finally got around to swap it out. After you get the car up to operating temperature, shut it down and pop the hood. Smell for coolant and listen and look for any wet spots or steam.

95Vert383AOD · Sep 6, 2012

No steam or wet spots...Never a puddle on the ground. I barely can smell it.

The leak has been slow and steady for 2 years. Strange

srtthis · Sep 6, 2012

if you find the leak lemme know if you find a few of my socks. they go in the drier but never come out. they have to be going to the same spot.

madspeed · Sep 6, 2012

dont get me started on that. I had to tear the washer apart a while ago to replace a pump, found 6 socks, 1 pair boxers and a kids size 6x polo shirt all stuck underneath the agitator assembly. WTF?

Sent from my rooted, rommed Galaxy Nexus....

7991LXnSHO · Sep 6, 2012

There is a fluorescent dye that can be added to help find things like this.

You might also have a hose with a pinhole leak that only leaks under RPM or other pressure. My SHO sprayed it onto the radiator out of one of the many little hoses when revved up and that made it very difficult to find.

95Vert383AOD · Sep 6, 2012

7991LXnSHO said:
There is a fluorescent dye that can be added to help find things like this.

You might also have a hose with a pinhole leak that only leaks under RPM or other pressure. My SHO sprayed it onto the radiator out of one of the many little hoses when revved up and that made it very difficult to find.

I had this issue on a lincoln before where the heater core connected. Hard to find when it just wants to drip drip and not flat out fail.

drexelsteve · Sep 6, 2012

What did u use to seal the head bolts?

95Vert383AOD · Sep 6, 2012

Machine shop did it....So its anybodies guess. That's why i would like to check them first.

Engine Losing Coolant For A Couple Years

95Vert383AOD

madspeed

Colonel Mustard

95Vert383AOD

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

95Vert383AOD

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

95Vert383AOD

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

LX302

Stanger

95Vert383AOD

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

madspeed

Colonel Mustard

7991LXnSHO

wanna catch the space herp

95Vert383AOD

drexelsteve

Member

95Vert383AOD

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Engine Losing Coolant For A Couple Years

Colonel Mustard

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

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Stanger

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

Colonel Mustard

wanna catch the space herp

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