Sounds like water
New User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 19
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From: Lancaster, TN
I had this problem with a cracked overflow resevoir (expansion tank). The water would drain down the fender well in the engine compartment and drop on the ground when the engine was hot. When it cooled down it would suck air in to the radiator. This would cause a running water sound, also the water level would always be low to about the same point. It would only loose the amount it pushed out in to the overflow, so it did not keep getting lower and lower. Something else to check...
Rich
Rich
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 124
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Thanks for the advice. It's not the problem though. i looked again and see that it is coming from the passenger side of motor because i see traces of antifreeze under the starter and oil pan and transmission. I guess it's either the heater core or temperature sending unit or core plug. I just can't tell where it's coming from. Has anybody ever used any of the stop leak stuff for the cooling system?
New User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, TN
My experience with stop leak is simple: Don't use it!
I am sure there are more scientific explanations, however my experience has been that stop leak may temporarily stop your leak but it does not solve your problem.
Eventually the stop leak will fail, as you are putting a bandaid on the problem rather than repairing it. Depending on where the failure occurs it could be catastrophic in nature. If you have a leak due to corrosion and you plug the leak up, the corrosion continues, because you have not corrected the problem or replaced the damaged part. The next time it fails, the leak will be the size of the original leak plus whatever new failure occurs. That could be significantly larger than the original leak.
Also my concern (maybe valid, maybe not) is that if stop leak plugs up the leaks, what does it do to my radiator? and what is it doing inside all those passages inside my engine?
Just my 2 bucks worth...
Rich
PS: I am not a mechanic, I am not an expert, I simply keep my own vehicles running myself. Most of them have over 200,000 miles on them, some of them over 300,000 so I must be doing something right (or be very lucky!)
I am sure there are more scientific explanations, however my experience has been that stop leak may temporarily stop your leak but it does not solve your problem.
Eventually the stop leak will fail, as you are putting a bandaid on the problem rather than repairing it. Depending on where the failure occurs it could be catastrophic in nature. If you have a leak due to corrosion and you plug the leak up, the corrosion continues, because you have not corrected the problem or replaced the damaged part. The next time it fails, the leak will be the size of the original leak plus whatever new failure occurs. That could be significantly larger than the original leak.
Also my concern (maybe valid, maybe not) is that if stop leak plugs up the leaks, what does it do to my radiator? and what is it doing inside all those passages inside my engine?
Just my 2 bucks worth...
Rich
PS: I am not a mechanic, I am not an expert, I simply keep my own vehicles running myself. Most of them have over 200,000 miles on them, some of them over 300,000 so I must be doing something right (or be very lucky!)
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 124
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I found the problem. It's a core plug up towards the front of the engine. Is this a do it yourself job? If so, how? I couldn't find it in the chilton manual. Can I put something on the outside to seal it. Is the core plug leaking a sign of a more significant problem on the inside of the cooling system?
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beerguy5812
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator
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May 16, 2010 06:27 PM
