loosing coolant

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Jan 25, 2006 | 01:54 PM

HighwayJunkieJT

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From: Aberdeen, Maryland.

loosing coolant

I have a 1988 B2 it is loosing coolant, I don't see a leak and its not in the oil. I have no idea where it's going. any help would be great

Jan 25, 2006 | 02:35 PM

plilikoi

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From: San Diego

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighwayJunkieJT

I have a 1988 B2 it is loosing coolant, I don't see a leak and its not in the oil. I have no idea where it's going. any help would be great

Most likely it's a leak, but you're not seeing it. How fast are you losing coolant? Is the exhaust unusually white/strange smell? Can you smell antifreeze when you have the heater and blower on?

Small leaks can go undetected for a long time if they leak onto some hot part of the engine. They evaporate before they reach the ground.

Good luck!

Jan 25, 2006 | 02:58 PM

HighwayJunkieJT

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From: Aberdeen, Maryland.

Thanks ... I can not smell it inside or out side the truck...... loosing about a 1/2 gal a week, I haven't looked at the exhaust I'll check that out when I get home.

Jan 25, 2006 | 05:50 PM

ljf0021

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Check your radiator cap, rubber overflow hose or tube and overflow tank. I put radiator leak stuff and it eventually stop the leak but stopped up the overflow tank and leaked out at bottom of the overflow tank. My overflow hose was expanding and leaking when vehicle was running and leaking a little under the overflow tank and radiator cap.

I cleaned the radiator and overflow tank (quite a mess from stop leak). Put a new radiator cap, new hose from radiator to overflow tank and I seen the loss of coolant almost stop. It cost me $12 at Advance.

Now, I have a leak at fuel injection part (not sure name) above the upper radiator hose. Hopefully just a gasket or two. Fix one thing and find another.

Hope this helps

Jan 25, 2006 | 07:50 PM

plilikoi

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From: San Diego

The rubber overflow hose is a potential culprit but that should leave a puddle after standing for about 15 minutes.

The water pump is also a good candidate for a hard-to-find leak. I had to replace mine around 120,000 or so miles.

I'm guessing it's more likely an external leak than an internal gasket leak. That's what you always hope.

Richard

Jan 25, 2006 | 10:41 PM

Desert Dog

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Leaks

Any coolant in your oil ? maybe a cracked head hope not.

Jan 28, 2006 | 04:29 PM

plilikoi

Mountain Pass

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 215

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From: San Diego

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighwayJunkieJT

I have a 1988 B2 it is loosing coolant, I don't see a leak and its not in the oil. I have no idea where it's going. any help would be great

I think you jinxed me :-(

I thought I smelt something strange in my BII with the heater on. I took the heater core cover off and discovered a puddle of antifreeze in there. It's a very slow leak, but it's only going to get bigger until I fix it. Fortunately it's a really easy (and inexpensive) fix.

BTW, the coolant lost from the heater core is directed out to the engine compartment where it runs down the passenger-side of the firewall.

Cheers,

Richard

Last edited by plilikoi; Jan 28, 2006 at 05:10 PM.