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Slight Coolant Drip

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Old Feb 15, 2024 | 09:58 PM
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Slight Coolant Drip

I have been working on the Excursion in the garage, been in there almost a week working on the interior and I am seeing a slight drip on the floor, not a lot but I want to correct it. Any suggestions on where to look? I have used a borescope and I can't see any trace. I am suspect of the coolant filter manifold but would that drip towards the front?

 
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Old Feb 16, 2024 | 04:37 AM
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100% sure it is coolant? Up front you have a potential for leaks at the points where the transmission lines connect at the radiator.

I would think a leak at a coolant filter manifold could cause a leak to hit the ground up front (assuming the typical location we use for coolant filters).
 
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Old Feb 16, 2024 | 05:51 AM
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Lately, we seem to have a rash of front cover leaks, more than water pumps. It may not be, but I look carefully.
 
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Old Feb 16, 2024 | 06:40 AM
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Originally Posted by bismic
100% sure it is coolant? Up front you have a potential for leaks at the points where the transmission lines connect at the radiator.

I would think a leak at a coolant filter manifold could cause a leak to hit the ground up front (assuming the typical location we use for coolant filters).
It is coolant, I run the Red Stuff.

I have been thinking about getting rid of the coolant filter, it has been on for 100,000 miles so everything should be cleaned out by now, even with the borescope it is so hard to see down there.
 
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Old Feb 16, 2024 | 06:44 AM
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Originally Posted by TooManyToys.
Lately, we seem to have a rash of front cover leaks, more than water pumps. It may not be, but I look carefully.
I hope it is not a front cover.

I have a 10 year old XDP metal impeller water pump, I tried to get a good look at it and the cover with the scope but everything is so tight down there it was hard to see. Where is the best place to look for a front cover leak without going into a teardown?
 
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Old Feb 16, 2024 | 07:06 AM
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Borescope, sweep the edges of the cover. The top two outfeeds from the heads seem to be the most problematic area. It might also be the oil ring between the cover and intake manifold.

I've been trying to fix my front cover iMovie video that my hard drive corrupted, and it will show the best way to remove and install the cover. In reality, it is covered in the service manual.
 
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Old Feb 16, 2024 | 07:23 AM
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LOL - I was pretty sure you ran the red ELC coolant.

Anyway - cleaning as many surfaces as you can gives you the best chance at tracing back to the source. Also, you can pressure the coolant system up to 15 psi (at the degas bottle) with air, and then inspect. Not a guarantee, but that pressure should make it more prone to leak while you are inspecting.
 
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Old Feb 23, 2024 | 06:46 AM
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I think I found it, the hose clamp on the thermostat housing was a little loose, I definitely saw a trail from under the hose. I am still planning on getting rid of the coolant filter.
 
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Old Feb 23, 2024 | 11:05 AM
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Good catch!

It definitely pays to have a good light and a telescoping mirror to see all the nooks and crannies when tracing a leak!.

-jokester
 
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Old Feb 24, 2024 | 08:56 AM
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New coolant leak, side tank of the radiator.
Been about 7 years since radiator was replaced, I did find my cap to replace the coolant filter manifold so everything will get done at once.
 
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Old Feb 24, 2024 | 08:59 AM
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If you are so inclined and replacing the radiator, The performance radiator is a great choice. No more plastic anything.

8 yrs and going strong

Good Luck
 
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Old Feb 24, 2024 | 09:57 AM
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I am also looking at the XDP radiator, I can pick one up locally at Rudy's Diesel and avoid the possibility of shipping damage.

BTW.... The failed radiator is a Mishimoto plastic tanked unit.
 

Last edited by Excurvelle; Feb 24, 2024 at 10:56 AM. Reason: addition
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Old Feb 25, 2024 | 08:41 AM
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Coolant filter and manifold removed, back to stock.

The only breakdown my Ex has had was a ruptured coolant hose from the manifold to the filter, thankfully an old farmer let me use his tools and gave me a piece of heater hose. I replaced the hoses with silicone hoses, trying to avoid this from happening again but it was about to happen again.


 
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Old Feb 25, 2024 | 10:12 AM
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Hose leaking, then radiator leaking ...... not to freak you out, but you might want to check coolant pressure to be cautionary.
 
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Old Feb 25, 2024 | 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by TooManyToys.
Hose leaking, then radiator leaking ...... not to freak you out, but you might want to check coolant pressure to be cautionary.
^^^ This...

-jokester
 
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