Coolant loss is driving me crazy!
02-06-12, 08:07 PM
#1
Coolant loss is driving me crazy!
I have to find the leak! I am losing about a quart every 25 miles. No white smoke. New head gasket and bolts (properly torqued).
I thought it was a lot of things and replaced them. HG, radiator, upper and lower hoses, upper coolant sensor, etc. This continued AFTER I replaced the radiator and head gasket.
The dye test shows pooling by the driver's side engine mount and some small drips down that side of the engine below the intake manifold. It looked like the lower coolant temperature sensor (single wire) was leaking some but not enough to explain the drip down the side of the engine and pooling by the driver's side motor mount. I replaced it anyway.
I have searched the Forums for "coolant loss" and would love to hear anyone's suggestions.
It may or may not be related but the check engine light keeps coming on after being reset. It takes about 10 miles of city and 40 miles of highway driving to trip it. Actually, 40 miles is the limit of what I have driven before getting off the highway so it might go longer.
Again, loss is about a quart every 25 miles. Hence, the 40 mile trip limit.
I thought it was a lot of things and replaced them. HG, radiator, upper and lower hoses, upper coolant sensor, etc. This continued AFTER I replaced the radiator and head gasket.
The dye test shows pooling by the driver's side engine mount and some small drips down that side of the engine below the intake manifold. It looked like the lower coolant temperature sensor (single wire) was leaking some but not enough to explain the drip down the side of the engine and pooling by the driver's side motor mount. I replaced it anyway.
I have searched the Forums for "coolant loss" and would love to hear anyone's suggestions.
It may or may not be related but the check engine light keeps coming on after being reset. It takes about 10 miles of city and 40 miles of highway driving to trip it. Actually, 40 miles is the limit of what I have driven before getting off the highway so it might go longer.
Again, loss is about a quart every 25 miles. Hence, the 40 mile trip limit.
02-07-12, 04:02 PM
#5
Coolant leak - the saga continues
The only DTC the car is throwing is 71, EGR Malfunction. Could this be related to the coolant leak? If so, how?
This is the driver's side of the engine toward the rear. In the top and bottom pictures one can see the cast "2JZ". The second picture is looking at the side of the engine near the starter (canister in foreground). The third picture is peaking under the intake manifold (which makes it look a lot like a head gasket leak but which may be deceiving). In the fourth picture I do not see any evidence of coolant dripping from the hose. That hose continues to the bottom of the upper radiator attachment point. {FYI - The thermostat is not in that housing on the 2JZ. The thermostat is on the passenger's side by the water pump.}
Short of taking off the intake manifold...what should I do next?
This is the driver's side of the engine toward the rear. In the top and bottom pictures one can see the cast "2JZ". The second picture is looking at the side of the engine near the starter (canister in foreground). The third picture is peaking under the intake manifold (which makes it look a lot like a head gasket leak but which may be deceiving). In the fourth picture I do not see any evidence of coolant dripping from the hose. That hose continues to the bottom of the upper radiator attachment point. {FYI - The thermostat is not in that housing on the 2JZ. The thermostat is on the passenger's side by the water pump.}
Short of taking off the intake manifold...what should I do next?
02-07-12, 04:05 PM
#6
That is a really good suggestion. My brother always wants to know, "If you don't have time to do it right the first time; how are you going to find time to do it right the second time?" Guilty. Again.
No, I did not have it pressure tested when it was just sitting there. Since I now own two heads, I have the opportunity to test the replacement before I install it - if it comes to that.
No, I did not have it pressure tested when it was just sitting there. Since I now own two heads, I have the opportunity to test the replacement before I install it - if it comes to that.
Trending Topics
02-08-12, 07:44 AM
#12
I will do the pressure test this morning if I can get out of the office. I found the inflation needle for an exercise ball which will fit nicely into a hose. I will pull off the overflow hose at the top of the neck under the radiator cap, put a golf tee in the disconnected end so the overflow tank does not drain, and pump away. I think my air compressor is going to be too loud for me to hear any air escaping so I will probably use a hand pump or a compression tank instead.
Last edited by WadeLovell; 02-08-12 at 06:26 PM. Reason: Spelling due to phone keyboard.