Coolant Loss - update and final call for thoughts.
Discussion
Guys,
you may remember back in December last year I posted asking for help in tracing a coolant loss on my 1989 400SE. Well two months later and I am no closer in tracking it down.
A little history:
About four years ago there was a small leak in the core of the radiator and so I added some radweld which cured it. Note this use of radweld may be pertainent later.
About 18 months ago the leak re-appeared so had a new core fitted.
December 2003, noticed a small pool of coolant lying under the car. The drip was coming from the bottom passenger side of the radiator. Having checked all the hose connections were "dry"/tight I assumed the radiator was the problem. Removed the radiator and had it pressure tested - no leaks.
Refitted the radiator and replaced the three hoses connected to the radiator with new silicon ones. Took the car out for a couple of short runs and no leak. Was about to refit the newly painted bib spoiler when I noticed coolant dripping from the same place.
If I take the car for a thirty mile run, about 4 hours after the run I can see a small drip. Standing over a period of a week the car will loss about 3-4 thimble fulls of coolant - so we are talking a small leak. I have also had the system pressure tested, in the car, at the local garage and still could not find the leak.
I have looked for coolant on all the hoses and all the parts of the radiator which I can see - nothing. The back of the radiator is covered by the fibreglass cowl which the fan fits to, so there is very little of the back of the radiator I can see.
As I see it I have two choices:
1. As it is a small leak I could try radweld. Would this be a bad idea bearing in mind my use of radweld about four years ago even though the radiator core has been changed since then ?
2. Get it recored again ?
Any thoughts or ideas from the Wedge community.
TIA,
Kenneth.
you may remember back in December last year I posted asking for help in tracing a coolant loss on my 1989 400SE. Well two months later and I am no closer in tracking it down.
A little history:
About four years ago there was a small leak in the core of the radiator and so I added some radweld which cured it. Note this use of radweld may be pertainent later.
About 18 months ago the leak re-appeared so had a new core fitted.
December 2003, noticed a small pool of coolant lying under the car. The drip was coming from the bottom passenger side of the radiator. Having checked all the hose connections were "dry"/tight I assumed the radiator was the problem. Removed the radiator and had it pressure tested - no leaks.
Refitted the radiator and replaced the three hoses connected to the radiator with new silicon ones. Took the car out for a couple of short runs and no leak. Was about to refit the newly painted bib spoiler when I noticed coolant dripping from the same place.
If I take the car for a thirty mile run, about 4 hours after the run I can see a small drip. Standing over a period of a week the car will loss about 3-4 thimble fulls of coolant - so we are talking a small leak. I have also had the system pressure tested, in the car, at the local garage and still could not find the leak.
I have looked for coolant on all the hoses and all the parts of the radiator which I can see - nothing. The back of the radiator is covered by the fibreglass cowl which the fan fits to, so there is very little of the back of the radiator I can see.
As I see it I have two choices:
1. As it is a small leak I could try radweld. Would this be a bad idea bearing in mind my use of radweld about four years ago even though the radiator core has been changed since then ?
2. Get it recored again ?
Any thoughts or ideas from the Wedge community.
TIA,
Kenneth.
The drip could be coming from some distance away so worth checking hoses at the other end of the rad, swirl tank, pressure cap, etc if you haven't already done.
Did any of the components from the old rad carry over? Otter switch, that sort of thing? Might just be a small leak/faulty seal here.
Did any of the components from the old rad carry over? Otter switch, that sort of thing? Might just be a small leak/faulty seal here.
Andy/Peter,
I am pretty sure it is the radiator which is the problem. Each time I have taken the car out for a run I have been checking for the leak and, once the leak has appeared, I have been rubbing down all the hoses, radiator and other cooling system components with paper towels to try and find the source of the leak - nothing so far.
To check if the coolant is running across from the driver side of the radiator to passenger side I have just tried the following:
The bottom of the radiator "sits" in a 90degree bend formed at the back by the vertical drop of the fibreglass shroud, which the fan it mounted to, I have inserted a long piece of cardboard between the bottom of the radiator and the fibreglass shroud.
If the card stays dry, and the leak is still dripping, then this should isolate the leak to the passenger side.
Peter,
the otter switch was carried over from the previous system but, as I said above, I have been running paper towels over the otter switch and top hoses areas and no sign of any coolant there.
Kenneth.
I am pretty sure it is the radiator which is the problem. Each time I have taken the car out for a run I have been checking for the leak and, once the leak has appeared, I have been rubbing down all the hoses, radiator and other cooling system components with paper towels to try and find the source of the leak - nothing so far.
To check if the coolant is running across from the driver side of the radiator to passenger side I have just tried the following:
The bottom of the radiator "sits" in a 90degree bend formed at the back by the vertical drop of the fibreglass shroud, which the fan it mounted to, I have inserted a long piece of cardboard between the bottom of the radiator and the fibreglass shroud.
If the card stays dry, and the leak is still dripping, then this should isolate the leak to the passenger side.
Peter,
the otter switch was carried over from the previous system but, as I said above, I have been running paper towels over the otter switch and top hoses areas and no sign of any coolant there.
Kenneth.
Sounds like the leak is coming from higher up ( ie otter switch) and then running down the rad. Theres a good chance when the rad is being pressure tested your're fixing the leak point with whatever pieces are being fixed to it then re-attaching your leaky bits back in the car. Cheack every single joint between the rad and the engine when its hot listening carefully having got the engine hot might help as you can sometimes hear the 'hiss'. Also use a socket to tighten jubilee clips but don't go mad.
Matt
Matt
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