Coolant dissapearing into nothingness AUII

[TheInterceptor]

Hello all!

So i have this little problem. Once apon a time, a number of months ago (cant say exactly, 4 or 5 maybe) i filled up the coolant tank to the MAX line and now its down below MIN!

There are no visible coolant leaks anywhere, there is no coolant smell. The motor does not seem to be burning the coolant, theres no white smoke coming out of the exhaust, no plugs are cleaner than others. Oil is not a milkshake. But one could argue it might be burnin it since idle isnt perfect, bit like a miss. Spark to cyls 1 2 and 3 are nice n strong but 4 5 6 are weaker, so im reckoning thatd be a bung coilpack causing this. Also pings once on startup every 3rd start or so...(any ideas on this aswell??)
Theres no moisture inside the cab so its not the heater core.

Anywho, where could it be going!? Could a reaaaally small pin leak in the rad be the culprit??
Car in question is my AUII I6 145xxxkms. Likley sporting its original heat exchange.

Cheers!

[XRGhia]

Checked your cap? Could be boiling a bit and pushing it out of the cap.

[TheInterceptor]

Yup cap is good. Only put this one on not long ago after the old cap made it boil over along with a bung thermostat. It made a right mess when it did that too! This time, nothing not a drip anywhere!
Ive had a look under there when hot anyway, its not boiling over, cheers

[XRGhia]

Get it pressure tested.

[T4ME]

Water pumps can weep a little(some have a small window when doing so)and the tiny leak may be evaporating before getting a chance to hit the ground.

Check for any white coolant stains around any coolant plumbing.

[JR.]

If it's the original radiator, the plastic end tanks can get tiny cracks at the bottom and slow leak at temperature, but the coolant gets blown away or dries as airflow while driving does its thing. If you've already replaced the thermostat, cap and you can't see signs of boiling, Tony's probably right; time to get it pressure tested or just go replace the radiator to be safe.

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by xrghiawagon

Get it pressure tested.

Will do this when i have the time thanks

Originally Posted by T4ME

Water pumps can weep a little(some have a small window when doing so)and the tiny leak may be evaporating before getting a chance to hit the ground.

Check for any white coolant stains around any coolant plumbing.

Ah righty. Ive poked around everywhere while looking for oil leaks (this car has been lots of fun latley!) and havent seen any stains!

If its the water pump..well. Guess i should replace that when i do the radiator too incase its the problem.
Cheers!!

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by JR.

If it's the original radiator, the plastic end tanks can get tiny cracks at the bottom and slow leak at temperature, but the coolant gets blown away or dries as airflow while driving does its thing. If you've already replaced the thermostat, cap and you can't see signs of boiling, Tony's probably right; time to get it pressure tested or just go replace the radiator to be safe.

Will get the pressure test done when i can and will do the rad in 5000kms time!

Thanks!

[Ford_The_Win]

I went through this with my old EL. One of the side tanks on the radiator had a slight leak but the dried pink spots made it obvious when I looked a little closer. When I pulled out the original radiator it was all rotten in one corner. You might have a pinhole leak in a hose somewhere, maybe a heater hose? So for $300 I'd ditch the radiator and buy a hose kit.

[TheInterceptor]

I see. Ive checked the hoses, no indication of a leak anywhere (of course there isnt, that would make it easy! haha) not even after i drove it to Melb and back. But ill consider a hose kit, darn pin holes.
Thanks, looks like this will be a decent major service!

[supershifty]

I'm only referring to what I understand about my XH (EL) cooling system - AU's might be different. I check my coolant expansion tank when the engine is cold, as long as it's showing coolant on the "min" line I leave it alone as I believe it's alright. The level rises when the ute gets to operating temp.

I'm wondering if the tank was topped up to "max" with the engine cold that the engine would simply blow off the excess due to expansion, then when cold would give the impression that there's a leak? Yeah?

Cheers!

[TheInterceptor]

Hello! I topped it to MAX when cold yup! But it doesnt expand enough to spill out! I have checked all that after the cap and thermostat episode haha. Dads BFII does the same thing too.

At current. The cold level is below MIN but when hot its hanging a couple of mm above the MIN line. Cheers!

[auIILTD]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, radiator fluid does not 'just disappear'. It is clearly going somewhere that is plainly not visible.

A radiator shop should be able to help you diagnose very quickly.

I hope that it is not your head gasket. That would be my bet if the Radiator tanks prove solid and no other obvious leaks.

Good luck with it.
Stu

[Maka]

Hi there Interceptor, another option maybe -

Can you double check the 2 heater hoses at the connection's under the inlet manifold? (Trace back from the firewall) Check them in the morning's when cold especially after a hot day's driving previously. If they are starting to fail youll see a weep at the quick fit connection's - might take a couple of goes/days spotting the random weep. This weep drops your coolant level down by around 1 or 2 ml everytime it happens..... a couple months later....mmm empty tank lol! Pretty certain the header tank should be full at all times anyway.

Good luck with it mate!

cheers, Maka

[AUFanboy]

Take the fans out and have a look for white stains where the rad tanks are crimped to the core. Mine seeps a bit around there (still the original). You can get newies on ebay for under $100... I have one under my bed but just haven't gotten around to fitting it yet, car still stays under 100 degrees with the original one even in the heat with the AC blasting so I'm procrastinating on replacing it.

Check the heater pipe behind the water pump too, leaks from the o-ring there are pretty much a factory-fitted Falcon feature! Good luck.

[frd906]

I had this issue, turns out the Hose from the bottle to the radiator had internal cracks in is causing it to leak

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by auIILTD

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, radiator fluid does not 'just disappear'. It is clearly going somewhere that is plainly not visible.

A radiator shop should be able to help you diagnose very quickly.

I hope that it is not your head gasket. That would be my bet if the Radiator tanks prove solid and no other obvious leaks.

Good luck with it.
Stu

I dont like your news, go away!
Just kidding, im really hoping its not the head gasket!! And yes, i know it doesnt just dissapear haha.

Engine idle and performance isnt degrading, idle isnt perfect but its been the same for a very long time now! So i still have faith its not the head gasket haha.
Thanks!!

Originally Posted by Maka

Hi there Interceptor, another option maybe -

Can you double check the 2 heater hoses at the connection's under the inlet manifold? (Trace back from the firewall) Check them in the morning's when cold especially after a hot day's driving previously. If they are starting to fail youll see a weep at the quick fit connection's - might take a couple of goes/days spotting the random weep. This weep drops your coolant level down by around 1 or 2 ml everytime it happens..... a couple months later....mmm empty tank lol! Pretty certain the header tank should be full at all times anyway.

Good luck with it mate!

cheers, Maka

Hello!

I could check the heater hoses yes. I see hm! Thanks Maka!

Originally Posted by AUFanboy

Take the fans out and have a look for white stains where the rad tanks are crimped to the core. Mine seeps a bit around there (still the original). You can get newies on ebay for under $100... I have one under my bed but just haven't gotten around to fitting it yet, car still stays under 100 degrees with the original one even in the heat with the AC blasting so I'm procrastinating on replacing it.

Check the heater pipe behind the water pump too, leaks from the o-ring there are pretty much a factory-fitted Falcon feature! Good luck.

Noted, might do that pending pressure test! Ive looked on ebay, glad they are very well priced!

Heater pipe o-ring, okay sure. Gotta love it. Thanks!

Originally Posted by frd906

I had this issue, turns out the Hose from the bottle to the radiator had internal cracks in is causing it to leak

Ah yes, brilliant. The hoses ive looked at were all pretty soft (easy to compress) if that might be an indication of its condition?

Thanks!

[Silver']

My 2cents worth...well, really just two thoughts that I had when reading this thread.

Tip 1 - cooling systems can sometimes leak only when cold. With a minor leak like yours, a pressure test on a warm/hot system may not be enough to identify the leak as it's potentially only actually leaking during the warm-up phase.

Tip 2 - Start the car from cold for 60 seconds. Check it 5 and again 10 minutes later as by then you will likely have some pressure in the system even though there's little or no heat in most of the cooling system components. It's worth a try.

Hope it works out to be something cheap for you ;)

[mik]

many places for a small leak to evade you, it could be leaking from a number of places and evaporating. Before it hits the ground, it could be seeping out of a walsh plug, let them test it at a cooling system place, they can check the coolant for cylander gases, or put dye in the cooling system , and check it with the black light if a pressure test does'nt find it.

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by SilverT2TE50

My 2cents worth...well, really just two thoughts that I had when reading this thread.

Tip 1 - cooling systems can sometimes leak only when cold. With a minor leak like yours, a pressure test on a warm/hot system may not be enough to identify the leak as it's potentially only actually leaking during the warm-up phase.

Tip 2 - Start the car from cold for 60 seconds. Check it 5 and again 10 minutes later as by then you will likely have some pressure in the system even though there's little or no heat in most of the cooling system components. It's worth a try.

Hope it works out to be something cheap for you ;)

Not bad! Might give that a shot. Starting to get annoyed, keep poking around and finding nothing! Thanks!! I hope its something cheap too!

Originally Posted by mik

many places for a small leak to evade you, it could be leaking from a number of places and evaporating. Before it hits the ground, it could be seeping out of a walsh plug, let them test it at a cooling system place, they can check the coolant for cylander gases, or put dye in the cooling system , and check it with the black light if a pressure test does'nt find it.

If i can get my hands on a pressure tester ill jack the pressure up and keep it there till i see something leaking. I can't seem to find any cooling system places around near work so the only option is for a standard mechanical shop to do the tests... (I can only leave my car at a mechs shop within riding distance to work while im at work since i need the car to get around!)

You mention welsh plugs...i sure as heck hope youre wrong!
Cheers!

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by AUFanboy

Check the heater pipe behind the water pump too, leaks from the o-ring there are pretty much a factory-fitted Falcon feature! Good luck.

Ding ding ding ding! This is the source of the leak! ^^ I borrowed a pressure tester from my work colleague, pumped it up to pressure, had a look everywhere then i had a peek behind the water pump and bingo! The O-ring has failed and its letting a bit of coolant out each time the system pressurises.

I did a combustion/compression test to further rule out head gasket since the idle is a bit jerky, all was good there! I checked the heater pipe O-ring again, no traces of coolant...thats why i couldnt find anything! So, it evaporates when the motor is hot enough.

Does anybody have any tips on replacing this O-ring? Would like to fix it today!

[auIILTD]

Well done. Good find.

[XRGhia]

Go buy a new pump, which will come with the gasket and o-ring, and grab some gasket goop too. Put the o-ring into the pump, then use a tiny bit of goop to seal right around it. Then fit it and the pump to the car. Let it set for ~1hr, then fill up with coolant/water and test.

[Maka]

Hi there,

http://showmoreresultsfromwww.fordfo....php?p=3868819

JC's post will give you a heads up!

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?p=3431913

Check Bill M's comment for another tip!

Thanks to Rowan & Grand_ Pa_spec's for their excellent write up's & how to's !

cheers, Maka

[TheInterceptor]

Hey Maka! I id a search after i posted haha, saw both links you posted! Thanks muchly!


And thanks XRG, i think ill head to Supercheap who have their 20% off storewide sale today and get me a waterpump and some gasket goo haha.

[LPGUTE]

this might help it not leak? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GENUINE-F...item1c2e9a414a

[TheInterceptor]

Oh, havent seen that before! I have gasket goo now which should do the ferrels job(?) so unsure if its worth buying??

Thanks!

[rowan194]

Originally Posted by LPGUTE

this might help it not leak? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GENUINE-F...item1c2e9a414a

Hmm, wonder if that would also fit the thermostat housing on the other side. I replaced the o-ring to fix a minor leak, but it was back again a couple of months later... I wasn't sure if it was the pipe, which is a little corroded, or I'd used too much sealant goop. I did use the genuine Ford green o-ring.

[XRGhia]

Mike, did you get the pump and install it?

[T4ME]

It shouldn't need sealant,preparing the surface areas are a must to get good O'ring seal.

No point flogging a dead horse.