Where is coolant going?? Little complicated.

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SmockDoiley

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Jun 14, 2003

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San Diego, CA

Jul 22, 2004

#1

• Jul 22, 2004

• #1

So I mentioned earlier that the top of my timing chain cover was pooled with coolant and so I suspected the T-stat gasket. I went ahead and replaced the gasket and installed a new 180* T-stat because the original 192* factory T-stat was still in there and the car is a 95. Anyways, after the change I fixed the drenched timing cover and everything seems ok. BUT, I still smell the sweet smell of coolant and the low coolant light keeps coming on after I fully serviced the system twice. Where is it going? Could it be that I had two leaks at the same time like a small pinhole somewhere else. I think maybe that my coolant tank has a leak but I'll double check that tomorrow.

 

timewarped1972

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Jun 17, 2004

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mesa, az

Jul 22, 2004

#2

• Jul 22, 2004

• #2

are you smelling it inside the car or under the hood?? usually when you have a puddle on the timing cover you want to do as you did, replace the t stat and gasket. the timing cover/ water pump can leak and put a puddle there as well.....do you keep having to add coolant??..........do as you said and check your over flow as that is where the low coolant sensor is ( on mine anyway)...

 

The Shape

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Jan 11, 2002

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East ARKANSAS Delta

Jul 22, 2004

#3

• Jul 22, 2004

• #3

If you can't see any leaks and you are sure you aren't burning it you might try a new radiator cap. I had a bad one summer before last that wouldn't hold pressure and it would blow out coolant.

 

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Quick5pnt0

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north eastern PA

Jul 22, 2004

#4

• Jul 22, 2004

• #4

Also if you are smelling it inside the car it could be the heater core leaking ever so slightly, usually when they really start leaking it gets really smelly in the car and the rugs will be wet. (just something to check)
More than likely there is another leak somewhere. Do you need to keep adding coolant?

 

DirtyD916

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May 25, 2003

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Norcal 916

Jul 23, 2004

#5

• Jul 23, 2004

• #5

my friend had the same thi9ng hapen i nhis bmw. It was his heater core, it had gone completely bad and had started leaking large amounts of coolant on behind his dash and it would puddle up on his rug. Since it was coming from underneath it took some time to figure out the source ( we thought it was dripping from somewhere ) but after blocking off the core with a rubber tube (we just iinsert it into the "in" and "out" rubber tubes that were going to and from the heater core.

Anyways if it is leaking onto your rug you must wash and vacuum it VERY thoroughly as it will eat through the carpeting.

 

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SmockDoiley

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Jul 23, 2004

#6

• Jul 23, 2004

• #6

I already said I changed the T-stat gasket and that fixed things on the timing cover. I know where the sensor is, but I was thinking for awhile that the reservoir was leaking because it seems wet sometimes but that wouldnt cause any smell because its just dripping fluid and it would create wet spots but it isnt. The radiator itself is always full but the reservoir keeps getting low so its not a real serious problem unless I let it go for awhile. Yes it is in the interior as well as under the hood and I think I will try blocking off the heater core since I wont be using it anytime soon anyways.

 

PNY PWR

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Jul 23, 2004

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Jul 23, 2004

#7

• Jul 23, 2004

• #7

I was loosing coolant. Found the EGR gasket on the intake was leaking internal and then burning it. I bypassed it when I changed the gasket and don't run coolant in there anymore.

 

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SmockDoiley

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Jul 23, 2004

#8

• Jul 23, 2004

• #8

Hey, first post. Nice of you to join us. Wow, I feel honored!

 

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SmockDoiley

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Jul 23, 2004

#9

• Jul 23, 2004

• #9

SOBMF!!!!!! So I finally found the source of my leak because the timing cover was covered again. I noticed a pool underneath the car so I ran the car and it started dripping so I looked underneath the car and what did I see?? Anybody??

My harmonic balancer rubber flapping in the breeze!!! Not the cause of the leak but that ended up being the heater hose spraying all over everything including the timing cover. But now my balancer is toast!! What the hell!! Got pics if I knew how to post them on here. Its pretty gnarly how far out this runner is. Oh well.

 

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SmockDoiley

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Jul 25, 2004

#10

• Jul 25, 2004

• #10

Well, I have changed the T-stat and gasket with success, and then the H. balancer because it was toast, followed by one of the heater hoses because it was spraying coolant everywhere. I went on a 130 mile road trip and I got the low coolant light again and my reservoir was almost empty. Drove back hoping it was just a little low in the engine and that it was full now, but it lost even more now so there is definetely a problem. What the hell! The car is in great shape, isnt overheating, has clean oil, exhaust looks and smells fine, and doesnt show any signs of leaking. Should I try the cap now?

 

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SmockDoiley

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Jul 25, 2004

#11

• Jul 25, 2004

• #11

P.S. What the hell happened to the who's online list at the bottom of the forums page? I use that everyday to track down my threads.

 

PNY PWR

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Jul 23, 2004

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Jul 25, 2004

#12

• Jul 25, 2004

• #12

I'd think if it was the cap you'd be overflowing the reservoir and seeing signs of it. A new cap is always a good idea anyways because it's pretty cheap. I'd do a simple check like bypass the coolant going to the egr spacer with a 1/4'' copper tube, put a couple vac. caps on the egr nipples. See if you still loose coolant. Easy way to rule out the egr spacer and if that's not it you can just hook it back up.

 

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SmockDoiley

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Jul 25, 2004

#13

• Jul 25, 2004

• #13

No, 95's dont see coolant into the throttle body area so it cant be that.

 

D

Daggar

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Jul 19, 2004

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Jul 25, 2004

#14

• Jul 25, 2004

• #14

If you still can't find the leak AND your exhaust looks good AND you still want to enjoy having a full head of hair you can do the old standard test. Go to the autoparts store and get some light reactive dye. Pressure wash your engine and run a black light over it to ensure you have all the remnants gone. Run the motor 15-30 minutes (enough time for the t-stat to open up and the fluid to run through everything). Shut it all down and check again with the black light. If the leak is external you cannot help but find it using this method. Even if it's hot and the fluid is evaporating the dye will still be visible. If you still can't find the leak then it's definitely an internal leak.

 

PNY PWR

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Jul 25, 2004

#15

• Jul 25, 2004

• #15

Soryy, wasn't paying attention

 

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SmockDoiley

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Jul 26, 2004

#16

• Jul 26, 2004

• #16

Isnt there a tester that pumps up the pressure in everything with a hand pump. It screws into the heater hoses somewhere.