Coolant Leak, but where?

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:49 pm

Good Morning,

I noticed yesterday that the coolant was low after the temp got to the '0' on 190 for the first time ever. I had topped all the fluids off (including the resevoir) about two weeks ago, and now the resevoir is empty!

There's no coolant on the garage floor, and I checked the oil, it's still clean enough to cook with (hey, I'm a bachelor ok?)

Any suggestions on where the coolant leak might be? It doesn't really make sense to me, the coolant has to be going somewhere!

Thanks,

Jon

HOLLYWOODSPIDER · Post by **HOLLYWOODSPIDER** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:39 pm

Is it possible that some air in the system finally worked its way out through the reservoir and your missing coolant took its place? how much is missing? [/list]

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:43 pm

Because the radiator is not the top of the coolant system, air bubbles can easily hide inside the engine. Careful and proper techniques must be followed to bleed your coolant system.

send me an email and i will return you a written procedure on this process.

also, it is possible that small amounts of coolant are starting to leak out from "____", and you have just discovered the missing fluid. Is the carpet around your heater core dry?

Run your hands underneath every hose as soon as they are cool enough to touch; are they dry?

Look underneath the water pump; see any drops?

are the two water choke hoses dry? when was the last time they were replaced? these two hoses are often overlooked in an overhaul.

slow leaks can evaporate before they show themselves. unfortunately, slow leaks deteriorate to large leaks over time. you were wise to investigate.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 1:58 am

I think there's about a quarter of the resevoir tank missing. Now, I did just notice it, and it could be over the two week period, I'm just not sure. I can't decide if that's a lot to be missing or not. But I get kind of paranoid when things are not working perfect, so any leak is a bad leak!

Mike, one of the places I was concerned about was the heater core, but it just rained this weekend and I'm pretty sure my top is leaking, but the carpet was wet. I didn't smelled it, and didn't notice the smell of coolant, yet I'm not confident enough to say the heater core isn't leaking.

I'm not sure where the water choke hoses are, I'm unfamiliar with those. The water pump looked good to go, I still need to feel all the different hoses though.

I'll try to get an email out to you tomorrow, it's past my bedtime!

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:31 pm

So I noticed that the more coolant I put in, the more it leaks and there's an acrid coolant-burning smell.

After running the engine for a few minutes and then turning it off I got under the car, was looking everywhere, got out and looked from up top, and I found it. The coolant resevoir.

There's a fairly large crack in the resevoir, so I guess I'm going to go ahead and have to replace it!

Thanks for the help gentlemen. Thankfully, this will be a fairly easy fix.

God Bless

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:44 pm

that's the least of all evils. You don't have to worry about bleeding the system

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:40 pm

WHEW!

Why can't my issues be that easy to solve? you must be leading a charmed life.

I mean, that was so obvious (in hind-site) that i didn't even give it a thought. is it safe to presume that the acrid smell was coming from the coolant burning on the exhaust manifold?

might as well plan on replacing the rubber hose between the reservior and the radiator.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:13 pm

Mike,

I'm right with on the oversight there. Just goes to show there's no right way to start diagnosing a problem!

I am almost positive that is what's causing the acrid smell. I dipped my finger in coolant and dropped it on the manifold while it was cold then started the engine, it was the same smell.

I plan on replacing the resevoir, line to the radiator, and windshield wiper lines this weekend when I get a chance!

thank goodness I don't have any major repairs!

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:34 pm

So, i am curious as to why the crack in the first place. you are sure it is a crack, and not a hole caused by heat? as in, is your exhaust manifold covered with the appropriate heat shield? a missing heat shield can lead to issues for your distributor.

everyone i know has his factory original reservior; we all live in michigan, therefore.....these items are not prone to failure.

the only way i could see that the reservior would crack is if someone filled it with water, and let the water freeze.....is that possible?

just bugs me not knowing why the failure occurred.

tanis · Post by **tanis** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:26 pm

I had to replace my coolant bottle due to cracking - It had become badly heat damaged (after 30 years) and become brittle, as the condition progressed, it cracked (interestingly, not on the bottom, but partway up) ans I didn't notice it at first. When I did, the crack had started to heat up and peal away, creating the beginings of a hole. After I removed it, I thought I might just seal it up with some high temp epoxy, but even gentle pressure caused it to break out, so I junked it for a newer one.

My 2 cents

tanis · Post by **tanis** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:28 pm

as an aside - the heater hoses are also located where they can drip onto the exhaust, so a burnt coolant smell could also originate there.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:22 pm

Jon
I've been looking at the pix of your motor, and the color of the header concerns me. The #4 tube looks like it has burned the ceramic coating. Since the coating is good to 1100F, the extreme heat would explain the coolant reservoir leak. When you get the engine running again, make sure you check the total timing advance. It either has too much advance or the carb is too lean, or a combination of both. If the header continues to get so hot that the coating is burning, it may crack

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 2:19 pm

Hm, I think you have a pretty good point there Mark, I'm wondering if the distributor leak I just noticed has been happening longer than I thought, or started on the drive up to WA. The header is clearly more dull than when I left. I'm sure it would clean up a little bit, but here's a picture from just before I left, and after I put the new head on. While one is in the San Diego sun and the other is in a darkened garage, there's a pretty obvious difference..

Before:

After: