loosing coolant.
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2005
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loosing coolant.
hi, the B is loosing coolant slowly but surelly. its not a big hassle but i just thought it be nice not to have to top off every 2 or 3 weeks.
its an '89 and it dont seem to be leaking on the floor or anywhere else.
could it be leaking from the head gasket? but then the engine runs very strong. i'm confused.
its an '89 and it dont seem to be leaking on the floor or anywhere else.
could it be leaking from the head gasket? but then the engine runs very strong. i'm confused.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 2
From: UT
Slow leaks can be irritating to find, because they may be slow enough that the coolant evaporates before it can drip to the ground. I would start by getting a pressure tester (I think Autozone carries one as part of their loan-a-tool program), hook it up, and see if it shows up with the engine cold.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 215
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
Originally Posted by raveng60
hi, the B is loosing coolant slowly but surelly. its not a big hassle but i just thought it be nice not to have to top off every 2 or 3 weeks.
its an '89 and it dont seem to be leaking on the floor or anywhere else.
could it be leaking from the head gasket? but then the engine runs very strong. i'm confused.
its an '89 and it dont seem to be leaking on the floor or anywhere else.
could it be leaking from the head gasket? but then the engine runs very strong. i'm confused.
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 432
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From: YORK S.C.
check around the radiator tanks and see if there is any corrosion,that is a sign of leakage,as mentioned already check around the heater core area,and check the engine oil to see if it is discolored to a milky color,if that is the case you probably either have a blown head gasket or a cracked head. does the engine run hot? have had any overheating issues? may also want to check around the thermostat housing. i have seen some slow leaks there. hope this helps
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 855
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From: Ocean Park WA
These are all the good basics and look at them. If there is nothing definitive then you'll have to go ahead and pressure test it. When my Aerostar did it I could find nothing under no pressure, but at 3 PSI it was a geyeser on the radiator tank.Make sure that before you start the pressure test that the cooling system is full to the top first.
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2005
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yea thats what i thought...i'm willing to bet its the intake gasket.
i wont do a preasure test on this vehicle simply because i think it will do more damage than good. same with backflushing/flushing the oil system.
i wont do a preasure test on this vehicle simply because i think it will do more damage than good. same with backflushing/flushing the oil system.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,208
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From: Wichita, KS
My 88 had a cracked head. Did the pressure test and couldn't find anything. Truck ran good and the compression test was great. Used about a 1/2 galon of coolant every 30 miles or so. There is a dye that you can put in the coolant to find the leek. My heads were cracked on the top of the exhaust ports up to the valve covers.
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I don't think a pressure test will hurt anything as long as you set it to the correct pressure. Look at your radiator cap and it will tell you the proper pressure to test it at, keep in mind the coolant system should be maintaining that same amount of pressure when running. So if its running at a certain pressure testing at that same pressure shouldn't hurt a thing!
hope This Helps
Phil
hope This Helps
Phil