Coolant low
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Senior User
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Coolant low
Was changing my oil pressure sensor today and noticed that my coolant was low. Low meaning like there was none in the degas bottle.
added almost a gallon.
What gives? And why isn't there a sensor?
added almost a gallon.
What gives? And why isn't there a sensor?
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 22
From: very South Texas
as with anything... its money..
If I had a say.. 50 sensors .... but WHO is going to pay for them..
a new truck today is $60,000 ... my house did not cost me that much..
back in the day..
a gas gauge, oil pressure and water temperature "Light" it all there was.
I seem to remember something called Maintenance... weekly.
I hope its just LOW and not a real problem for you.
If I had a say.. 50 sensors .... but WHO is going to pay for them..
a new truck today is $60,000 ... my house did not cost me that much..
back in the day..
a gas gauge, oil pressure and water temperature "Light" it all there was.
I seem to remember something called Maintenance... weekly.
I hope its just LOW and not a real problem for you.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 276
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From: Cincinnati, OH
The temp sensor will tell you when you get too low. You should check all your fluids while the gas is filling every time you fill up. Of course that doesn't always happen. I've let my poor old girl run dangerously low on oil and coolant in the past just don't make it a habit.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Are you sure it isn't leaking? Since it was a gallon low, I'm going to assume you don't look under your hood all that often. Can you try and pinpoint a leak? If all else fails, a pressure test should tell you where it's leaking from.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,292
Likes: 2,197
I had a coolant loss while driving and was annoyed that my engine temp guage showed normal.
the loss was thru an o ring on a hose because the snap ring popped out.
i installed a coolant pressure guage. Basically a 0 to 16 psi fuel pressure guage.
this would tell me if I have a loss as a result of:
head gasket
egr leak
o rings and lines
watet pump seal
water pump cavitation
coolant/oil heat exchange
heatrt core
but I like the idea of a low level indicator
AEM sells the probe that could detect low level.....the challenge would be a circuit board controller. The AEM probe is used in water methonal systems and reads the conductivness of water to measure fluid is there....when the fluid drops be low the probe the open circuit resistance of air lights up a warning light.
so we need a gadget that will measure fluid resistance and warn on open circuit.
the loss was thru an o ring on a hose because the snap ring popped out.
i installed a coolant pressure guage. Basically a 0 to 16 psi fuel pressure guage.
this would tell me if I have a loss as a result of:
head gasket
egr leak
o rings and lines
watet pump seal
water pump cavitation
coolant/oil heat exchange
heatrt core
but I like the idea of a low level indicator
AEM sells the probe that could detect low level.....the challenge would be a circuit board controller. The AEM probe is used in water methonal systems and reads the conductivness of water to measure fluid is there....when the fluid drops be low the probe the open circuit resistance of air lights up a warning light.
so we need a gadget that will measure fluid resistance and warn on open circuit.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,292
Likes: 2,197
I had a coolant loss while driving and was annoyed that my engine temp guage showed normal.
the loss was thru an o ring on a hose because the snap ring popped out.
i installed a coolant pressure guage. Basically a 0 to 16 psi fuel pressure guage.
this would tell me if I have a loss as a result of:
head gasket
egr leak
o rings and lines
watet pump seal
water pump cavitation
coolant/oil heat exchange
heatrt core
but I like the idea of a low level indicator
AEM sells the probe that could detect low level.....the challenge would be a circuit board controller. The AEM probe is used in water methonal systems and reads the conductivness of water to measure fluid is there....when the fluid drops be low the probe the open circuit resistance of air lights up a warning light.
so we need a gadget that will measure fluid resistance and warn on open circuit.
the loss was thru an o ring on a hose because the snap ring popped out.
i installed a coolant pressure guage. Basically a 0 to 16 psi fuel pressure guage.
this would tell me if I have a loss as a result of:
head gasket
egr leak
o rings and lines
watet pump seal
water pump cavitation
coolant/oil heat exchange
heatrt core
but I like the idea of a low level indicator
AEM sells the probe that could detect low level.....the challenge would be a circuit board controller. The AEM probe is used in water methonal systems and reads the conductivness of water to measure fluid is there....when the fluid drops be low the probe the open circuit resistance of air lights up a warning light.
so we need a gadget that will measure fluid resistance and warn on open circuit.
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Senior User
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I'm not sure, although I'd think I'd notice it on the ground.
I don't spend much time under the hood or behind the wheel. I haven't raced in two years and since this is my race hauler, it only gets occasional use. I think I've put about 10k on it over the last two years, although I do drive it at least once a week.
Changed the oil a few months ago, and the fuel filter last weeks.
it could have been down for quite some time, and I'm just now noticing it.
I did have a shop replace the water pump when it was leaking a few years ago. I do hope they used ELC coolant, as that's what I just topped it off with.
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The first few years after I got my 2011 6.2l I had to add coolant a few times; not a few drops, but it was below the minimum line in the bottle. Never had the temperature go above normal. Never saw any leaks. Haven’t had to add any for awhile, so whatever was going on fixed itself.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,292
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Could also be just improper recent drain and fill of coolant ...with out the suction gadget, the engine will suck in coolant to displace air and the degaussing bottle will continue to get low until all the air is out.
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Senior User
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ill be hoping for that!
6.7 Weight Loss
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Woodbury CT
If you rarely drive the truck, had the water pump replaced, don't see anything on the ground and hadn't noticed it I would go with the water pump replacement as the cause. Had to be an air pocket in the system someplace that worked its way out.
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Senior User
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Filled it to the top of the cold fill line, and after a few trips it was around the bottom cold fill line.
Still working the air out, or is something up?
6.7 Weight Loss
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Woodbury CT
Oil level is steady? No white smoke coming out of the exhaust? Is the system holding pressure? Just seems too coincidental that you had the waterpump changed and shortly after you're loosing coolant. I'm sure you topped it off again, if it goes down again I would take it back, or crawl underneath with a flashlight and see if you can see anything leaking. If you crawl underneath with a flashlight, warm the thing up 1st so the system is under pressure
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Senior User
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Oil level is steady? No white smoke coming out of the exhaust? Is the system holding pressure? Just seems too coincidental that you had the waterpump changed and shortly after you're loosing coolant. I'm sure you topped it off again, if it goes down again I would take it back, or crawl underneath with a flashlight and see if you can see anything leaking. If you crawl underneath with a flashlight, warm the thing up 1st so the system is under pressure
Haven't noticed any white smoke.
How do I check pressure?
One thing to keep in mind, is that the water pump was changed almost 2 years ago. However the truck gets minimal use these days, and I have no idea how long he has been low on coolant.
finally, I do not know what kind of coolant the shop use. I always use ELC, and that is what I just topped it off with. Is it OK to mix coolants?