Coolant Comes Up Missing?
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Grayling, MI
Coolant Comes Up Missing?
Has anyone had a problem with the coolant coming up missing? I have a 95 F 350 4x4 with a 5.8, E4OD, and no air, and the coolant level keeps dropping without any apparent leaks that I can see. The oil level stays consistant and I don't notice any white smoke from the exhaust. Anyone have any ideas?
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by velcro7279
Has anyone had a problem with the coolant coming up missing? I have a 95 F 350 4x4 with a 5.8, E4OD, and no air, and the coolant level keeps dropping without any apparent leaks that I can see. The oil level stays consistant and I don't notice any white smoke from the exhaust. Anyone have any ideas?
Been there, figured that out (I had both issues).
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
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I don't know if these are the best ways but they are ways I found out where mine was goin.
One time, a sparkplug had a slightly green shaded electrode.
The other time I was doing the valve seals with the heads on, using compressed air to hold the valves up. I heard bubbles in the radiator.
I had another vehicle that the leak was in the waterpump but it was not very big, it was dipping onto the exhaust headpipe so there was no evidence of a leak.
This was a GM product I was working on for someone.
I'm sure there are other ways too.
KO
One time, a sparkplug had a slightly green shaded electrode.
The other time I was doing the valve seals with the heads on, using compressed air to hold the valves up. I heard bubbles in the radiator.
I had another vehicle that the leak was in the waterpump but it was not very big, it was dipping onto the exhaust headpipe so there was no evidence of a leak.
This was a GM product I was working on for someone.
I'm sure there are other ways too.
KO
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
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From: Lafayette, IN
I had a leak in the thermostat bypass hose. The hole was inside the elbow, so there was only a specific heat range where it would leak--warm enough for the hole to open up, but before the thermostat opened. I didn't find it until AFTER I replaced the intake manifold gaskets...
Jason
Jason
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From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by velcro7279
Where was yours leaking while you were driving? What would be the best way to find out if it is burning it?
I discovered the hose leak after ignoring the problem for months then one day opening the hood while the truck was running because I could smell the coolant, and sure enough, I saw the leak - finally. It was on the top of the hose spraying the power steering box.
I'm assuming over time the split in the hose got bigger.
I replaced that and coolant consumption drastically reduced, however it was still disappearing. So, on a whim, I decided to replace my original 300K mile headgaskets (duh!) and then the problem went away completely, until the heater core started leaking, which I've removed and brazed several times and while my repairs don't leak, the thing keeps developing new leaks in other places.
One of those things I guess.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
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From: Lafayette, IN
Dang, Frederic, you are cheap! 
I just did my heater core this summer, took 2 hours and a $40 replacement, and I was done. I knew the instant it went, because I could smell it and the windshield fogged up inside on the defrost setting. Most of that 2 hours was fartin' with the nasty sealant they use where the nipples go through the firewall.
Jason
I just did my heater core this summer, took 2 hours and a $40 replacement, and I was done. I knew the instant it went, because I could smell it and the windshield fogged up inside on the defrost setting. Most of that 2 hours was fartin' with the nasty sealant they use where the nipples go through the firewall.Jason
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i ain't rite
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Originally Posted by frederic
So, on a whim, I decided to replace my original 300K mile headgaskets ( .
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Sometimes jumping to the worst possibility doesn't help the thread poster, or naming misc. fixes.
Missing coolant does not necessarily mean leaking head gasket. Go with the most likely cause first, which is a leaky hose or fitting in the coolant system. If you haven't replace the radiator cap lately, just do it with a factory replacement. Secondly, do a pressure test. If your pressure test passes, but you are still losing fluid, your leak may appear when your engine gets hot, put some dye in.
The amount of coolant loss also might help. What rate are you losing coolant? Also, how's your temp gauge reading?
Missing coolant does not necessarily mean leaking head gasket. Go with the most likely cause first, which is a leaky hose or fitting in the coolant system. If you haven't replace the radiator cap lately, just do it with a factory replacement. Secondly, do a pressure test. If your pressure test passes, but you are still losing fluid, your leak may appear when your engine gets hot, put some dye in.
The amount of coolant loss also might help. What rate are you losing coolant? Also, how's your temp gauge reading?
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2006
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Hmm mine was in the waterpump i had loosened one of the bolts to play with the steering pump. it only leaked when the run was running. so that might be a possibility but simply put jsut take a good look at ur truck while its off and on. for any probs.
Or hmmmm you may want to take a real real good look at your freeze plugs since if any of the 8 crack all you would get is a bit of steam (until it got worst) that would slowly drain ur system. and it that cause pay attain to the thermostat... what would happen with the freeze plugs is that it wouldnt really steaming till the truck warmed up enough for it so initially when turned on you wouldnt see it. but hmm these are my two cents on things ive had happen to me..
good luck though
Ken
Or hmmmm you may want to take a real real good look at your freeze plugs since if any of the 8 crack all you would get is a bit of steam (until it got worst) that would slowly drain ur system. and it that cause pay attain to the thermostat... what would happen with the freeze plugs is that it wouldnt really steaming till the truck warmed up enough for it so initially when turned on you wouldnt see it. but hmm these are my two cents on things ive had happen to me..
good luck though
Ken
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Grayling, MI
I am not sure of the rate off coolant loss because I just noticed that it was down. The last time I checked it was about 3-4 months ago. I guess it lost about 1 1/2 gallons in about that time. I haven't driven it much until the past month. It sat most of the summer. The temp gauge reads good now that the coolant is full. I rebuilt the engine two years ago and put all new brass freeze plugs in it. I will take a closer look at it and see if I can find anything in the places you guys suggested. Thanks alot.
Steve
Steve
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 446
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From: Grayling, MI
Well, that is about how much I dumped into the radiator and the overflow to get everything up to where it is supposed to be. The level in the overflow was down the next day. Don't know where that went though. Nothing was wet under the overflow tank. Does the radiator suck the coolant from the overflow?
