Strange coolant leak 95 D1

[zende]

The truck seems to run and drive fine with no change on the temperature gauge and no signs of over heating... I shut the truck off and a few cups of coolant leaks out from somewhere under the reservoir.. Fill it back to line and same thing, but only after driving..

What do you think guys?
Any feedback greatly appreciated! Thanks

 

[ptschram]

Is it the original expansion tank?

It's not uncommon for the expansion tanks to crack and leak.

Replace it now, before you need to learn how to do head gaskets.

PT

 

[zende]

Yes it is, but it only leaks after driving... Is it due to pressure and heat?
I just filled it to line and watched it for several minutes with a flash light underneath and no leaks...

 

[Ed Cheung]

buy a new expansion tank before you loss enough coolant to cause damages

 

[Max]

I had a leak that i could not find turned out to be the expansion tank cap didn't seen to leak a lot so I thought I'll fix it soon i started to leak more and inspected a little closer. The weep hole was leaking on the pump. Replaced both and all seems well. Max

 

[zende]

ok, It is the expansion tank! Today after driving I shut the car off, popped the hood and fluid was spraying from the side of the tank.. I also noticed that the fluid was bubbling like hot lava inside the reservoir. Is this normal or prob with the radiator?

Thanks

 

[MUSKYMAN]

hard to say why its boiling in the tank...often its from a blown head gasket or from a crack next to a liner...either way its not so good and mostlikely the over pressure situation is what caused the tank to fail.

 

[macklow]

If there was a sudden pressure drop in the cooling system (if you took the cap off the expansion tank), the hot coolant will boil. So maybe no head gasket problems at all.

 

[jeffro0502]

Those tanks get old and stressed and crack...replace the tank drive and see if you have a boiling issue. w/o the proper pressure to begin with like macklow said could possibly cause the coolant to run hottern than it normally would with the sealed system. Also if you don't have a good 50/50 mix, say maybe way too much water in it....can cause it to boil early I would think. If you have a leak and just been re-filling with water you may need to drain system and renew coolant as well.

 

[ChrismonDA]

On my 98 the expansion tank blew up like a bomb when I was sitting in traffic on the way to work. There is alot of pressure in a coolant system..

 

[ptschram]

There is alot of pressure in a coolant system..

No, there should never be more than 15 psig generated by the cooling system in a Rover. If you are exceeding this, you have a bad cap or blown head gasket.

 

[edthediscoman]

The 15psi keeps the coolant from boiling, but generally only under high revs or uphills etc. If correct the coolant should be 180-190 deg F. However the 15psi will let the coolant remain liquid hotter than standard boiling point. I would smell the coolant to smell for exhaust gasses or fuel - leading to the rupture. If none, then:

replace the reservoir and replace the cap with a new one

after that
replace the fan clutch
more drastic
Radiator/pump.

 

[zende]

Yes, I have been adding only water to the expansion tank as it sprays out... If I remember correctly, It started to boil badly as I unscrewed the cap a bit and it seems to only spray out after driving when I shut the truck off..

Im ordering a new expansion tank from will and when i get back into town I'll install it..

So, you guys dont think I have any head gasket issues?
When I put the new tank in, should I drain the old coolant /water mixture?
If so, How?

Thanks everyone...

 

[edthediscoman]

Smell the coolant in the tank, or look for signs of oil/gas etc...that will give you an indication whether you might have a head gasket issue - as it blows the exhaust gasses into the coolant. Or in the reverse sucks coolant into the engine, and blows white smoke. If no burnt gas smell or white smoke you should be OK.

It might be the intake manifold gasket....but lets get to that later, once you have replaced the tank and the cap - cause we know thats bad.

 

[edthediscoman]

As far as draining - I just pull the bottom rubber Y hose off the radiator. Its usually easier that trying to get the rusted in drain plug out - and you can't easily screw up a $400 radiator by removing the hose.