Coolant leak after most of cooling system replaced
07-22-23, 02:51 PM
#1
10th Gear
Thread Starter
Coolant leak after most of cooling system replaced
I'm losing 8-10 ounces of coolant per day driving 10 to 30 miles. That is to say the coolant is 1/2" to 1 1/2" below the "F" line in the overflow reservoir which I top off every day. Have new radiator, hoses, radiator cap, thermostat, and pressure test.
The shop says they pressure tested the system and there is no leak. They suggest it is evaporation (it IS very hot in AZ but this has been happening since it was cooler out, and a gallon and a half of coolant per month does not sound like evaporation).
Details:
Two weeks ago, due to an overheating incident (white smoke from under the hood), There was a history of occasionally noticing the reservoir being empty and refilling it but it had never overheated before. I had the car towed to the shop. They replaced the radiator which they said had a leak, replaced upper and lower hoses, thermostat, radiator cap, and they ran a block test. The next morning I noticed the overflow reservoir was about halfway between the marks, about two inches below MAX. I suspected they didn't fully fill it. Three days later I noticed the reservoir was empty, so I filled it and drove it back to the shop. They pressure tested it and said there was no leak and I should just keep an eye on it.
I check it each morning in the garage when it is cool. Almost every day I drive it (10-30) miles I notice it is below the F line and I top it off back to F. Often it is an inch or more low and takes over a cup of coolant to fill, and if I miss a day it will go lower. I presume it will empty in 2-4 days (100-200 miles of driving) but now I check it every day.
Today I topped it off in the garage before leaving the house and after a mile of driving I pulled over for an unrelated reason, popped the hood while the engine was still running and noticed drops of coolant dribbling out the tube on the overflow reservoir cap continuously. The coolant was a bit low (1/2"). 10 miles later at my destination I check before turning off the engine and coolant was still dribbling out the overflow reservoir cap. It's possible I overfilled it but not by much because I fill it right to the F line every time.
I'm not crazy about returning to the shop again for the exact same response "We tested it again and there is no leak, it's normal, maybe evaporation, just keep an eye on it and topping it off." Ideas?
The shop says they pressure tested the system and there is no leak. They suggest it is evaporation (it IS very hot in AZ but this has been happening since it was cooler out, and a gallon and a half of coolant per month does not sound like evaporation).
Details:
Two weeks ago, due to an overheating incident (white smoke from under the hood), There was a history of occasionally noticing the reservoir being empty and refilling it but it had never overheated before. I had the car towed to the shop. They replaced the radiator which they said had a leak, replaced upper and lower hoses, thermostat, radiator cap, and they ran a block test. The next morning I noticed the overflow reservoir was about halfway between the marks, about two inches below MAX. I suspected they didn't fully fill it. Three days later I noticed the reservoir was empty, so I filled it and drove it back to the shop. They pressure tested it and said there was no leak and I should just keep an eye on it.
I check it each morning in the garage when it is cool. Almost every day I drive it (10-30) miles I notice it is below the F line and I top it off back to F. Often it is an inch or more low and takes over a cup of coolant to fill, and if I miss a day it will go lower. I presume it will empty in 2-4 days (100-200 miles of driving) but now I check it every day.
Today I topped it off in the garage before leaving the house and after a mile of driving I pulled over for an unrelated reason, popped the hood while the engine was still running and noticed drops of coolant dribbling out the tube on the overflow reservoir cap continuously. The coolant was a bit low (1/2"). 10 miles later at my destination I check before turning off the engine and coolant was still dribbling out the overflow reservoir cap. It's possible I overfilled it but not by much because I fill it right to the F line every time.
I'm not crazy about returning to the shop again for the exact same response "We tested it again and there is no leak, it's normal, maybe evaporation, just keep an eye on it and topping it off." Ideas?
Last edited by jdfromaz; 07-23-23 at 02:43 PM.
07-22-23, 03:52 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
Can you post a picture of the reservoir when the engine is cold?
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