missing coolant
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New User
Joined: Sep 2002
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missing coolant
Everyday the radiator level on my 1986 150/302 is about an inch low. I have been topping it off for a week now. There are no visible leaks and not much smoke, if any at all, coming out of the exhaust. Any ideas?
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 17
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missing coolant
No, I haven't. Isn't that weep hole there for when the pump is going bad? Wouldn't there be coolant on the ground? Please tell me where to look-location of weep hole and how to access it. Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 313
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From: Orlando
missing coolant
Could be a head gasket leak or manifold gasket.
If you can get a coolant system pressure tester (or go to shop), remove plugs, put pump in place of radiator cap and pump up to about 15lbs. Pressur should stay same if no leaks. If pressure falls and you can find any external leaks, crank the engine (again plugs are out, coil wire grounded) and see if coolant comes out any of the plug holes. There is also a tester that checks for combustion gasses in the radiator (another test for blown head gasket) but its harder to come by. Don't forget to check your oil - milky color oil is sign of problem.
If you can get a coolant system pressure tester (or go to shop), remove plugs, put pump in place of radiator cap and pump up to about 15lbs. Pressur should stay same if no leaks. If pressure falls and you can find any external leaks, crank the engine (again plugs are out, coil wire grounded) and see if coolant comes out any of the plug holes. There is also a tester that checks for combustion gasses in the radiator (another test for blown head gasket) but its harder to come by. Don't forget to check your oil - milky color oil is sign of problem.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 2,297
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From: Indiana
missing coolant
fishingboy, The weep hole on the water pump will be around the snout of the pump body before it goes to the shaft. Usually on the bottom. And no, most of the time you will not have a puddle of coolant on the ground from a leaking weep hole. The coolant just runs out the hole while the engine is running and fans around the pump body and around the bottom of the engine and into the air as the vehicle is traveling. Get a good light and shine from under the truck onto the bottom of the water pump and look for a hole, if it is whats leaking you will be able to see where its damp and faning out under the pump.
