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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Trucks / November 2004Missing Coolant (w/link to pics)
Hey Gang, You may recall my post from a few weeks ago regarding the mysterious missing coolant. I reported that I could smell the sweet scent after parking. Well, I am off this week and made it a point to try and figure this out. I haven't figured it out, but maybe you can help. The coolant leaks VERY slowly. I filled the radiator and the overflow container up to five dots on the dipstick about 2 weeks ago, and it is only at the second dot on the dipstick, and the radiator is still full. Here is where it isn't leaking: No leaks from the Radiator itself No leaks from the upper hose No leaks from the lower hose No leaks from the secondary (overfill) tank No leaks from the water pump No leaks from or around the thermostat housing Here is what I found: I crawled underneath and found a little anti-freeze pooling up on a frame support around the oil filter. Further examination showed some concentration of anti-freeze along the lip where the oil pan bolts to the engine. I realized I had to figure where it was coming from and there is nothing I could see that indicated any thing dripping from above to that location. No trail, no evidence at all. The truck runs like new and idles great too. Here are the pics of where I see the anti-freeze hanging out: http://jonesmendler.com/~fmendler/coolant_leak1 --This is from under the car http://jonesmendler.com/~fmendler/coolant_leak2 -- This is from the wheel well with the tire removed. Thanks, ER > Hey Gang, > [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > ER Freeze plug? Roy > > Hey Gang, > > [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > > Roy Definition: An expansion plug located in the side of an engine block that is supposed to protect the block against freeze damage. Water expands when it turns to ice, and if the coolant doesn't have enough antifreeze protection it can freeze and crack the engine block. The freeze plugs (there are several) are supposed to pop out under such conditions to relieve the pressure on the block. Freeze plugs can often be a source of troublesome leaks as a result of internal cooling system corrosion. Ease of replacement depends on accessibility. I found this: http://www.dodgedakotas.com/boards/v6/5997.html Because I don't see the amount of anti-freeze discussed here coming from the area of the starter, I am thinking it might be this: From the link, " 1st make sure it's not coming out the back of the intake assembly (Plenum). the water jacket runs on the outside of the back of the plenum and possibly blew the gasket on back. " I don't know what any of this is Found more info...there is a passenger side freeze plug near the motor mount. Google told me that some others have had slow leaks here too. Any comments? > Found more info...there is a passenger side freeze plug near the motor > mount. Google told me > that some others have had slow leaks here too. Any comments? If it were me, I'd get some leak detection dye and a black light. Put the dye into the coolant as per the instructions. Drive it for a while (a few days at least), and then use a black light to look for traces of the dye. You can get this all (dye, light, and accessories) in a kit from any automotive place. This is a very effective way of tracking down cooling system leaks. I had a low mileage chevy van that had a corroded freeze plug that gave a very slow leak. Luckily, I was able to change it out fairly easily by removing the engine cover inside the van. I agree with Tom. Get the dye and black light, it will lead you right to the leak. HD Found more info...there is a passenger side freeze plug near the motor mount. Google told me that some others have had slow leaks here too. Any comments? Sounds like freeze plug. I worked with a lady that had a 01 Durango 318 with about 50,000 miles on it. Freeze plug rusted through on back side of engine. Transmission had to be dropped to get to it. I think it cost her around $500.00 to have it done. BK >> Hey Gang, >> [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > >Roy Do you think that after 50,000 miles she had more to worry about as far as corrosion in her cooling system? Was that one freeze plug an indicator that there may be more troubles to come? Thanks, ER > Sounds like freeze plug. I worked with a lady that had a 01 Durango > 318 with about 50,000 miles on it. Freeze plug rusted through on back [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > > > >Roy > Do you think that after 50,000 miles she had more to worry about as far as > corrosion in her cooling system? Was that one freeze plug an indicator that [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > ER Give the system a good flush. I sold my van shortly after I replaced the plug, and still see it around from time to time, 12 years later. When I pulled the plug on the van, I felt inside the block with my finger, and came out with a lot of crud, rust and sediment. Maybe caused by the Ph or hardness of the water? I dunno, but I would fix the problem, flush it real well, and not give it too much more thought. HD if it isnt the thermost housing gasket and you cant see where it is coming from, we at the dealer install a dye in the system that shows up brite green when it leaks, it will trace it to the original leak using a black lite, Glenn Beasley Chrysler tech > > Hey Gang, > > [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > > Roy <snip> >Here is where it isn't leaking: > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >No leaks from the water pump >No leaks from or around the thermostat housing I don't see the radiator cap on this list... sometimes the little things can be the big problem... > <snip> > >Here is where it isn't leaking: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > sometimes the little things can be the big problem... AHH! good point Mac. New radiator cap was the first thing I did...sorry about not adding it. Thanks! if you smell antifreeze did you check your heater core mike >> <snip> >> >Here is where it isn't leaking: [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Thanks! Freeze plugs were not designed and installed to fall out if you engine coolant froze, it just happened to work out that way. They are actually "core plugs" to plug openings needed when they cast the engine block/ cylinder heads. James |
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