| Author |
Message |
    
Kitster
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 06, 2002 - 01:00 pm: | 
|
My wife drives a 98 D1 4.0 V8. Bought it used, and for the first 8 months or so, no leaks whatsoever. Just recently, since it got cold here (Moscow, Idaho) she seems to be loosing a couple of drops of coolant each night in the garage. When I crawled under to take a look, it appeared to be coming from somewhere above where I could see, but not high enough that I could see from the top. The final drip point seemed to be dripping from the drivers side front of the oil pan. Any thoughts on where to start looking? Could it be related to using the heat more? Could it be something relatively simple?? (PLEEAAASE). Thanks for your help.
Kit |
John Moore (Jmoore)
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 06, 2002 - 01:09 pm: |
|
Miles? Have you changed hoses, coolant, thermostat recently? |
Kitster
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 06, 2002 - 01:15 pm: |
|
Just under 60k miles, and no hoses, coolant or thermostat changed lately, last (besides oil change) service was in August re: 50K LR service. |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 06, 2002 - 01:29 pm: |
|
I'd look along your driver's side head... my '99 developed a leak at the back of the head... just a small trickle, and would only do it intermittently, but still annoying. (it was developing valve issues, too, at 80k mi on the odo)....
FWIW...
-L |
Wes Legaspi (Wes)
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 06, 2002 - 03:37 pm: |
|
From the description you gave, that sounds like your front timing cover gasket. I had the same exact problem on my 95 disco. Took it to the dealer and they quoted me $650 for the repair, didn't have the dealer fix it though, but an independent shop.
hope that helps. |
muskyman
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 06, 2002 - 04:30 pm: |
|
before you go paying to rip it apart try a couple bottles of barrs leak. if you only have a tiny leak it very well may seal it.
and before anybody jumps on me saying that stuff is crap ...let it be known that 90% of the barrs leak sold is sold to new car manufactors who treat every single car they make as a matter of course .
and yes it is compatible with aluminum
flame away for my CB fix |
Ed Petrush (Exp3)
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 06, 2002 - 11:13 pm: |
|
i would not take muskyman's advice.. barrs leak is a very poor way to choose to fix this and will make any future repairs on the coolant. Basically barrs will coat the entire inside of your coolant system with a tar to try and plug leaks.. this can cause problems with your water pump, heater core, thermostate... the easiest way to diagnose this problem is with coolant die and a black light. For about $20 you can buy a kit from any good parts store.. basically you add a little bit of the die to the expansion tank and then run the truck for a while and if there is a leak you will be able to trace it using a black light (the die floureses in the black light and is a bright pink color..) They also make this die for motor oil as well.. once you steam clean the engine & under carriage.. its very easy to trace any small leaks.
my 2 cents also thinks that it might be the beginning of your water pump failing.. certainly worth the investment of new hoses, thermostat, radiator flush.. also at 60k miles.. it wouldn't hurt to just do the water pump.. while you are at it.. replace the serpintine belt as well..
email me if you have any more questions |
Greg H
| | Posted on Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 03:49 am: |
|
Wes and Ed are probably right-I'd check from underneath with a flashlight to try to locate leack from possibly timing cover gasket or water pump gasket or from hole under impellar on water pump. With a small leak it's amazing how far coolant can travel before finding a low spot to drip from.
If you can't find it from underneath, take your hand (make sure your hand is dry and ENGINE OFF and not HOT) and feel under impeller, along side of h2o pump where gasket sits and along timing cover where gasket sits and check to see if and where you find coolant. That should help narrow where you need thinking of repair. |
Pugsly (Pugsly)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 11:28 am: |
|
One other comment - the red antifreeze looks very similar to ATF. IF you have the red antifreeze (which you should, btw) Make sure it isn't a power steering leak. I thought I had a cooling system leak but it turned out to be a loose fitting on my power steering box. |
Ed Petrush (Exp3)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 11:31 am: |
|
As for Pugsly commnet... the dye is the best way to go.. they make several different colors that you will add to oil, coolant, power steering... its a very simple way to solve your problem.. just make sure to steam clean the truck before adding. (it'll make it easier to find source) |
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page