Where is my coolant going.....

[.RJ]

In my 325is. Waterpump, T-stat and T-stat housing are new. Radiator was flushed. I cannot find any leaks anywhere... hoses, rad, etc. Even the hoses under the manifold and to the firewall (which are new) appear to be fine.

Compression #'s are 202,200,196,210,202,205. So the headgasket is fine.

So..... I'm stumped. Its a slow loss - losing a few inches from the reservoir every week or two.

[Dragon]

I'm telling you, Coolant Gnomes.

[.RJ]

I'll kill them and eat them.

[Mike]

Chan is mixing it in his RBV for a little extra kick.

[.RJ]

He already does that.

"P&C"

[lillitnn92]

i had a leak once. but it would only leak a little bit once the truck warmed up and the metal expanded a bit to let it out. then when it cooled down, it stopped.

just throwing that out there.

[.RJ]

So where was the leak......

[lillitnn92]

So where was the leak......

oh yeah.

it was around the water pump.


i was just throwing the idea of the expansion part, not really the location.

[.RJ]

The water pump and gasket is new...

[lillitnn92]

what about in the oil? have you drained and check for water in there?

i understood about new pump and gasket, but it has to be going somewhere.

[.RJ]

I just changed the oil. It looked fine coming out as best I can tell.

[Kaan]

R > B+M+W

[lillitnn92]

i am doing some searching. i saw someone mention heater core. checked that? any smells new inside car?

[lillitnn92]

this is about a volvo, but i guess it's something to look at also.


My wifes 940 and my 960, each with grey caps, failed within 6 mos. of each other. They tend to get little hairline cracks in the threaded portion. They spittle and sputter and ooze coolant ONLY when at temp. and pressurized. Check it out carefully.

[.RJ]

Heater core isnt leaking - no smells inside the car, and carpet isnt damp when I dont leave the windows open overnight and it rains.

Even with the car hot and running I cant find any leaking. I would expect to see some evidence of the leak after the fact... crusty white residue from evaporated coolant.

[lillitnn92]

Gnomes? :roll:

i can't think of anything else.

[Evan]

When the radiator went on my miata it only leaked coolant when it was hot. And it was a very small leak

[Maengelito]

maybe it was from your bleeder hose being open and letting out a lot of coolant. now that it has cooled, it has sucked some coolant from the reservoir to replace that inside the system. keep it topped off and if it stops disappearing, you should be alright

[ScottyB]

what is the odds of a new gasket failing?

other than that, if you can't find traces of leaks i cant think of where it would be.

[ViPER1313]

My SHO only leaked coolant while warming up - the leaks stopped when it reached opperating temp or while it was sitting cold. Does the radiator have plastic endtanks?