Help to find coolant leak

[2wrench]

Can anybody help with some stuff to put in the radiator
that will help show origin of coolant leak?

I thought a read a post like that here, recently.

Thanks,

 

[DrEntropy]

The standard antifreeze will kinda flouresce with a black light. There are dyes to do the job too. Check a local auto parts store yet?

If it's leaking and you can't SEE the source, check the heater core.

Just two random thoughts. :wink:

 

[Brosky]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]check the heater core[/QUOTE]

And the carpeting directly below it.

You can also smell around that area and get the antifreeze order if the core or hoses have begun to leak.

 

[Andrew Mace]

...You can also smell around that area and get the antifreeze order if the core or hoses have begun to leak.

Ah...brings back [un]pleasant memories of my '91 Explorer, which went through at least FOUR (4) heater cores in the 12 years I owned it (new to death by rust and another mechanic's bungling). Nothing like a cool evening drive...and being suddenly enveloped by a cloud of sickeningly sweet-smelling mist wafting so gently from the dash vents....

 

[2wrench]

Thanks, gentlemen. Ahhh, yes, the sweet smell....

so enticing, I'm doing everything I can to avoid so much goodness.

And by the way, I fudged...it's not for the TR, but shhhhhhh.

Don't tell anybody, okay?

 

[tomshobby]

Ah, newer vehicle? Possibly the head gasket.

 

[NutmegCT]

Couple things I found searching for coolant leak ...

Warm engine, cloth over tailpipe to see if an unusual amount of moisture is coming through. Head gasket leak.

Squeeze rad hoses - possible pinhole that only spurts under hot pressure.

Whitish color to engine oil. Not good ...

Wet spot(s) in footwell or up under dash - heater core.

Let us know what you find. My own TR3 seems to lose about a pint of coolant during every long drive. Still can't find where it's going.

Tom

 

[vivdownunder]

Could be escaping past the radiator cap and out the overflow.

Try taping a small plastic bottle to the overflow outlet before your next trip, and see what you collect !!!

If that's the culprit, obviously the first port of call is a new radiator cap, and if there's a next, it's a radiator core cleanout with through rods

Happy New Year,

Viv.

 

[prb51]

Nutmeg,
I've a new radiator and when I used the 4lb. cap it'd lose a bit of fluid periodically. With 4lbs it's bound to boil over. I now use a 7lb. and only fill the rad so the fluid is only half way up the extension and that seems to keep the stuff where it belongs (we'll see come summer and 100+).