How much it costs to check a coolant leak?

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swzhao@gmail.com - 06 Nov 2007 22:57 GMT

It seems that the coolant is leaking on my Forester 2001.
The coolant level is around low. I filled it up to half full, but two
days later it came back to the low line again. The weird thing is
that it seems to stay at the low line since then and doesn't drop off
anymore. What might be wrong?

I called subaru dealer but they charge $125 simply for a checking.
Isn't it too high?

I remember people talked about Subaru's head gasket problem and I
think I did add subaru's coolant conditioner about a year ago. If it
is the cause, is my Forester still under warranty?

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Weaponer - 07 Nov 2007 01:24 GMT

On Nov 6, 3:57 pm, "swz...@gmail.com" <swz...@gmail.com> wrote:

> It seems that the coolant is leaking on my Forester 2001.
> The coolant level is around low. I filled it up to half full, but two
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> think I did add subaru's coolant conditioner about a year ago. If it
> is the cause, is my Forester still under warranty?

Could your coolant bottle be cracked an area of where the coolant
level settles out?

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VanguardLH - 07 Nov 2007 04:16 GMT

> It seems that the coolant is leaking on my Forester 2001.
> The coolant level is around low. I filled it up to half full, but
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> it
> is the cause, is my Forester still under warranty?

Call a car shop and ask what they charge to do a pressure test. If
the pressure decreases, there is a leak which removes some of the
fluid and allows the air to expand which reduces its pressure.

By low, were you using the line on the overflow tank? If so, how do
you know the fluid inside the radiator was low or not? Could be the
radiator was low, you added coolant to the overflow tank instead of
the radiator, so the fluid got sucked back into the radiator when it
cooled. When peering down past the opening after removing the
radiator cap, can you see the top of the fins? The cooland should be
higher than that. In fact, when cool, the coolant should be dripping
from the cap when you remove it because the coolant should be that
high inside the radiator (i.e., the radiator should be completely
filled with some overflow in the overflow tank - you really don't want
any air inside the cooling system).

A good pressure testing kit will run $100, or more
(http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-73908290599399_1972_81435060);
however, the shop should only be charging a slight fraction of that
cost because obviously the tool is resuable over many tests and
customers. Unless you are going to work on several cars, it doesn't
make sense to spend the money to get one unless the cost to have
someone else pretty much pays for the tool and you know how to use it
and do the diagnosis if a leak is detected by the tool. I think you
also need to get a bypass hose for the water pump.

The Subie shop seems to be charging a high price. I think Tires Plus
charged me $20 a couple years ago. Since it is that time of year, you
might just want to check around for the cost of a coolant flush and
make sure they include a pressure test in the quoted price (or using
that as a premise then manage to weasel out of them the price that
they charge for a pressure test).

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swzhao@gmail.com - 07 Nov 2007 05:57 GMT

> <swz...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
[quoted text clipped - 50 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

Many thanks! Very helpful information including some I cannot
understand yet :)
It doesn't sound so bad. Maybe it's just the winter cold which makes
coolant level down in the overflow tank? Is it normal if it's the
radiator which sucks off coolant?
I'll check the radiator cap tomorrow.

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StephenW - 07 Nov 2007 06:09 GMT

The next time you get the oil changed, see if someone will look under the
car for you. The coolant leak that cincerns the heads useally drips onto the
engine crossmember and could be seen from the bottom. Also check around the
thermostat for leaks and sometimes the upper rad hose at the engine

Signature

Steve
ASE Master Tech
L1 Diag
Currently residing at a Subaru Shop
4.5 years doing tires and alighnments

>> <swz...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
[quoted text clipped - 57 lines]
> radiator which sucks off coolant?
> I'll check the radiator cap tomorrow.

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VanguardLH - 07 Nov 2007 16:33 GMT

>> <swz...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
[quoted text clipped - 72 lines]
> radiator which sucks off coolant?
> I'll check the radiator cap tomorrow.

Coolant expands when heated hence the overflow tank. When it cools,
it contracts which would create a vacuum and suck the coolant back in
from the overflow tank. You need some extra fluid in the overflow
tank to ensure siphoning continues to work.

With the engine cold, take off the radiator cap and fill the coolant
to the bottom of the neck for the filler throat (where the cap screws
in). Make sure you have some fluid (up to the low mark) in the
overflow tank. Run the engine until it gets to operating temperature.
Let it get cold again. Remove the cap and check the fluid level. It
should be right up to the bottom of the cap. Then check how much
fluid is in the overflow tank. Should be the same (if the engine is
at the same temperature as before when you checked).

You never mentioned if you saw wet spots under the car when parked
overnight when you get home from work and then go back out to the car
in the morning, or when you go back out to your car at the end of
work. Hard to tell if the coolant wasn't low and you simply topped it
off since you didn't mention if the level went low again after the top
off (except for the one time you mentioned to find it low again - but
looks like you are measuring only by the overflow tank).

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