mysterious slow coolant leak, 93 longbed
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From: Peoria
mysterious slow coolant leak, 93 longbed
93 with the five speed and the 3.slow.
I have a small coolant loss. Its an old truck, burn a lil oil and loses a lil coolant but runs great otherwise. Last year I flushed the block, flushed the radiator, changed the thermostat/tstat gasket, changed the temp sender and temp sensor, changed a leaking heater hose, and replaced ALL clamps with new band clamps. I maybe have to refill the overflow 1-2 times a year. Lately I've noticed a tiny drip on the driveway after sitting overnight. I cannot find the source, but it is coolant. I found a small amount of it dripping off that crossmember that runs almost directly below the radiator, its shaped like a boomerang if viewed from the front of the truck (not sure what this crossmember is, I just know you can lift the truck from it). I've ran my fingers around every hose, the petcock, and the motor itself is bone dry. I did notice a bit of wetness to the left hand side of the water pump when facing the engine but i cannot be sure it's coolant and not oil from the weeping valve cover gasket.
When I change the oil there is NO water in the bottom of the oil pan. when I pop the radiator cap there is NO oil floating on the top of the radiator.
I placed a piece of white cardboard directly below the petcock overnight and it turned up dry.
Where else do i look?
I have a small coolant loss. Its an old truck, burn a lil oil and loses a lil coolant but runs great otherwise. Last year I flushed the block, flushed the radiator, changed the thermostat/tstat gasket, changed the temp sender and temp sensor, changed a leaking heater hose, and replaced ALL clamps with new band clamps. I maybe have to refill the overflow 1-2 times a year. Lately I've noticed a tiny drip on the driveway after sitting overnight. I cannot find the source, but it is coolant. I found a small amount of it dripping off that crossmember that runs almost directly below the radiator, its shaped like a boomerang if viewed from the front of the truck (not sure what this crossmember is, I just know you can lift the truck from it). I've ran my fingers around every hose, the petcock, and the motor itself is bone dry. I did notice a bit of wetness to the left hand side of the water pump when facing the engine but i cannot be sure it's coolant and not oil from the weeping valve cover gasket.
When I change the oil there is NO water in the bottom of the oil pan. when I pop the radiator cap there is NO oil floating on the top of the radiator.
I placed a piece of white cardboard directly below the petcock overnight and it turned up dry.
Where else do i look?
Is the radiator always full in the mornings?
And you just notice the loss in Overflow tank?
You can check the overflow hose for small crack
Only other thing you can do is get a cooling system pressure test kit and pump up cold engine to 20psi pressure and see where the coolant is leaking out
Problem with small leaks is that they don't leak until engine is warmed up and there is 14-16psi pressure inside, and when engine is warm most of the leaking coolant evaporates, so hard to find a trail
And you just notice the loss in Overflow tank?
You can check the overflow hose for small crack
Only other thing you can do is get a cooling system pressure test kit and pump up cold engine to 20psi pressure and see where the coolant is leaking out
Problem with small leaks is that they don't leak until engine is warmed up and there is 14-16psi pressure inside, and when engine is warm most of the leaking coolant evaporates, so hard to find a trail
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