Coolant leak located
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Coolant leak located
UPDATE on POST #13
Literally snapped pics a minute ago and posting this over the phone.
How serious is this? Havnt noticed any overheating...im assuming I should keep it parked for now lol
Literally snapped pics a minute ago and posting this over the phone.
How serious is this? Havnt noticed any overheating...im assuming I should keep it parked for now lol
Last edited by NiteriderFRC; 12-14-2016 at 01:00 PM.
#2
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
#3
Melting Slicks
Kinda hard to tell from the pics but that looks like water, not coolant. If that is not coolant, but it's what is in your cooling system, it might explain the leak.
Either way it's likely to be your heater core that is leaking, but I can't say I have ever seen it leaking out the bottom of the box in your engine bay. Check the carpet (and under carpet) in the passenger footwell area - is it wet or damp? That's another sign of a leaking heater core.
My $0.02... you should be OK driving it locally, but keep a jug of coolant in the car and top off the overflow tank/reservoir as needed, when engine is cool. If it is the heater core, get it fixed as soon as you reasonably can and don't take any long trips or you might get stranded. Would be a good idea to flush the cooling system before replacing the core, so the new core doesn't get stuffed with whatever is flushing out of the system.
If it's not the core... I have no idea.
Either way it's likely to be your heater core that is leaking, but I can't say I have ever seen it leaking out the bottom of the box in your engine bay. Check the carpet (and under carpet) in the passenger footwell area - is it wet or damp? That's another sign of a leaking heater core.
My $0.02... you should be OK driving it locally, but keep a jug of coolant in the car and top off the overflow tank/reservoir as needed, when engine is cool. If it is the heater core, get it fixed as soon as you reasonably can and don't take any long trips or you might get stranded. Would be a good idea to flush the cooling system before replacing the core, so the new core doesn't get stuffed with whatever is flushing out of the system.
If it's not the core... I have no idea.
#5
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
#6
Looks like normal condensation.
#7
That would be a lot of condensation...if your reservoir is low it's probably coolant. Easy to tell it will feel oily. If it's the heater core, your windshield will have a film on the inside.
#8
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
Guys, coolant from the heater core will leak inside the car. Not in the engine compartment.
Leaking coolant won't leak up hill, onto the AC lines.
Leaking coolant won't leak up hill, onto the AC lines.
#9
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Condensation would be from running the AC correct? Which i have had no need to run at all lately. I didnt have a chance to really get down and dirty to check things thoroughly. Been out all day and just got home. Ill run the car again and analyze further when I can.
Last edited by NiteriderFRC; 12-06-2016 at 08:26 PM.
#10
Burning Brakes
Smell or taste sample, is is coolant or water or washer fluid or ? Don't really taste it but identify the fluid.Keep coolant overflow at high mark.You could use dye kit with blacklight to find it but different dyes for oil-coolant.
#11
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
Condensation would be from running the AC correct? Which i have had no need to run at all lately. I didnt have a chance to really get down and dirty to check things thoroughly. Been out all day and just got home. Ill run the car again and analyze further when I can.
#13
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
There seems to be no coolant leaks in the cabin or fog/film on the interior side of the windshield. And to top it off the heater works just fine. Is it safe to cross the heater core off the list? And if so where could this leak be springing from?
took the car to work today. Driving home i got on it a bit on the fwy. came home and there was a whiff of coolant I could smell from outside the car. I popped the hood and fresh hot coolant was steaming on the passenger frame rail below the pressure tank.
took the car to work today. Driving home i got on it a bit on the fwy. came home and there was a whiff of coolant I could smell from outside the car. I popped the hood and fresh hot coolant was steaming on the passenger frame rail below the pressure tank.
Last edited by NiteriderFRC; 12-14-2016 at 01:02 PM.
#14
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
coolant was dripping down from this pipe
Also is it normal to have all that caked up crap all around?
Im going try and source the leak on thursday but if anyone has a general idea of where or what to start with, Should i put leak tracing dye in the cooling system?
Also is it normal to have all that caked up crap all around?
Im going try and source the leak on thursday but if anyone has a general idea of where or what to start with, Should i put leak tracing dye in the cooling system?
Last edited by NiteriderFRC; 12-14-2016 at 01:07 PM.
#15
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Those coolant tanks have been known to crack.
Time to pull the tank and inspect around that general area.
Twist and bend the hoses for signs of cracking.
Maybe a pressure test as well.
Time to pull the tank and inspect around that general area.
Twist and bend the hoses for signs of cracking.
Maybe a pressure test as well.
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#17
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I actually hope its the tank, seems like a straight forward fix!
Last edited by NiteriderFRC; 12-14-2016 at 01:26 PM.
#18
Melting Slicks
That particular Aluminum pipe is the High Pressure supply line for your A/C [Freon] so no it's not the Source of the Antifreeze leak,, but your getting close, I would heat the system up real good by idling without A/C and use a Bright Flashlight and Mirror to hunt down the leak, this could be a crack in a tank, leaking Heater hose, etc.
#20
Melting Slicks
My 96 had a coolant leak in almost the exact same area; one of those heater hoses has a small round check valve spliced into it; the body is plastic / nylon and developed a small crack; I only found it when the crack became large enough to **** a stream of coolant onto the exhaust manifold....I misjudged steam for smoke and thought the engine was on fire !!!