Coolant leaking :(
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 22
Coolant leaking :(
Hey guys. Have an 03 MC, and the last two days I noticed after I park, i have a puddle of coolant near the front passenger tire area. I didnt pay close enough attention to if it was directly under where you fill the coolant or not. Each time i checked it it was very low so i put a little more in. I can tell the car is hot and there's a little bit of a "burning" smell i guess after i drive for maybe 10-15 minutes.
I'm very much NOT a car guy, but I'm a real good do-er if someone can give me directions. Is there some easy stuff I can check to see where the leak may be coming from while under the hood?
I'm very much NOT a car guy, but I'm a real good do-er if someone can give me directions. Is there some easy stuff I can check to see where the leak may be coming from while under the hood?
Monte Of The Month -- October 2012
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,886
From: Ames, IA
Renting a pressure tester from a parts store would be your best bet, if you do not see any leaks. Can usually be rented from an automotive parts store.
If you can take a look, I would first check out the coolant elbow(s) and lower intake manifold. The LIM gasket could be leaking. If this is the case, be sure to replace it with a metal gasket such as a Fel-Pro.
If you can take a look, I would first check out the coolant elbow(s) and lower intake manifold. The LIM gasket could be leaking. If this is the case, be sure to replace it with a metal gasket such as a Fel-Pro.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 22
Thanks for the reply. I'll have to pop the hood and see if i can see a leak, or if i can figure out what those two parts you told me to look at are.
Also, to try to figure out where it's leaking, do you think it's safe to pour water into the coolant reservoir just to see if i can see it dripping out somewhere? I'd hate to keep wasting actual coolant more than I already am.
Also, to try to figure out where it's leaking, do you think it's safe to pour water into the coolant reservoir just to see if i can see it dripping out somewhere? I'd hate to keep wasting actual coolant more than I already am.
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 12,590
From: Mentor, Ohio
During the warm time of the year (when temps are NOT going to get to freezing), you can run straight water. This time of year, I'm be a leary in mt climate, temps start freezing at any time.
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Renting a pressure tester from a parts store would be your best bet, if you do not see any leaks. Can usually be rented from an automotive parts store.
If you can take a look, I would first check out the coolant elbow(s) and lower intake manifold. The LIM gasket could be leaking. If this is the case, be sure to replace it with a metal gasket such as a Fel-Pro.
If you can take a look, I would first check out the coolant elbow(s) and lower intake manifold. The LIM gasket could be leaking. If this is the case, be sure to replace it with a metal gasket such as a Fel-Pro.
^^^agree^^^
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 22
OK, filled it up all the way with coolant, and it did start leaking. Below are links to the two pics I took showing it. Does this help? I honestly can't tell where it's coming from, if its just the reservoir leaking or something else, and I dont have any way to raise my car up to look under it. I'm going to check it again in a few hours to see how much actually leaked out.
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