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| mystery coolant loss | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 24 2012, 09:18 PM (1,493 Views) | |
| downsouth | Feb 24 2012, 09:18 PM Post #1 |
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Shade Tree Mechanic
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My 99' 1.3 is slowly loosing coolant. I can smell antifreeze when I first turn on the heat. So this makes me think heater core! I pressurized the system and it only looses pressure when the engine is warmed up. It doesn't steam out the tailpipe. I can't hear or see any leaks. No oil in coolant or vise versa. The right front corner of the head has started to leak oil recently. I'm leaning toward a head gasket but I want to be sure. |
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| idmetro | Feb 24 2012, 10:14 PM Post #2 |
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Compression test might help diagnose the head gasket issue. |
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| Rooy | Feb 24 2012, 11:55 PM Post #3 |
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A block test kit (can be rented at some parts stores) to check for combustion gases in the coolant may help confirm a head gasket issue. |
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| Woodie | Feb 25 2012, 07:03 AM Post #4 |
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I'm thinking water pump. They often will only leak when turning and the leakage will run around the other side of the engine making you think something else is leaking. Likewise, the oil leak is usually the cam seal, but will run to a different location before it drips off, just to screw with your head. |
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| Bad Bent | Feb 25 2012, 07:56 PM Post #5 |
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Facetious Educated Donkey
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All of the above and I have a thread called How to "Fix" a Mystery Coolant Leak which is leaking from the freeze plugs on the intake manifold at the head. |
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| Old Man | Feb 25 2012, 08:02 PM Post #6 |
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????????????? http://thesecularity.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=14178 |
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| HelterSkelter | Feb 25 2012, 08:03 PM Post #7 |
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#1 Pizza Driver
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i think they have dyes that you can put in your coolant that show up under uv light. i know i have seen them for ac systems at autozone. could park the car in the garage, drain the system, put water and uv dye in the car, run it til warm, turn off the lights, check for leaks with uv lights, fix leak, refill with coolant. or use the method i use for finding leaks, put a bunch of cardboard under the car and see where the drips fall and then follow them upwards until you find the source. if it is a heater core leak one quick fix that i have seen proven to work is to get some bar's leak radiator stop leak, the one with copper, and put the appropriate amount in. this saved me from replacing the heater core in my sentra. if you can't find the leak and it's a small leak, even if it's a hose, this will stop the leak, permanently as far as i can tell. i once ran enough of this stuff through my system so stop a leak that was caused by a very loose hose so it works pretty good. this is what i am talking about: http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Bar-s-18-oz-liquid-copper-block-seal-intake-and-radiator-stop-leak/_/N-262g?itemIdentifier=560508_0_0_ Edited by HelterSkelter, Feb 25 2012, 08:07 PM.
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| downsouth | Feb 25 2012, 11:39 PM Post #8 |
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Shade Tree Mechanic
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Thanks guys for the input. I will work on it some more asap! If I can't find the leak I will try the stop leak. I read to remove the head you must remove the cam to get to the head bolts. I had trouble in the past reinstalling the cams for a nissan 2.5 and had to take it to the shop. So I'm a little skittish.
Edited by downsouth, Feb 26 2012, 12:31 AM.
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| Bad Bent | Feb 26 2012, 12:55 AM Post #9 |
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Facetious Educated Donkey
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Do not do the stop leak because it will clog up everything and you will eventually have to replace the water pump - probably before it's time. That stuff gets on your Coolant Temp. Sensor and it could mess up your FE. You'll love pulling the cam on the G10. I did when I installed the 3Tech street/race cam. The "hardest" part was removing the crank and water pump pulley and resetting the cam timing.Click on any of these: 98 Metro Rebuild Engine Rebuild Top and Bottom Detailed 1.0 Head Rebuild Guide Bottom End Rebuild Guide Rebuilding Hydraulic Lifters Engine Torque Specs |
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| downsouth | Feb 26 2012, 08:08 PM Post #10 |
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Shade Tree Mechanic
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I got the metro up in the air. I found some coolant leaking from the bottom of the upper radiator hose. I tightened the clamp some and I'll see how that does. The oil is definetly leaking from the head. I wonder if I can put some RTV around the head to slow it down. The only problem I have is that it leaks on my driveway and I can't stand that. By the way Bad Bent I have a G13.
Edited by downsouth, Feb 26 2012, 08:09 PM.
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| downsouth | Feb 26 2012, 10:39 PM Post #11 |
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Shade Tree Mechanic
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I done some more digging! The heater core is leaking. Looks like this was my problem all along. Now I have to take out the dash. Do I need a puller for the steering wheel? |
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| HelterSkelter | Feb 26 2012, 10:48 PM Post #12 |
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#1 Pizza Driver
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it ran in my sentra for 3000 miles and after i drained it the cooling system was just fine. the only way it starts to gum up stuff is if it comes in contact with air and a bit of heat for a long time. if you were to put it in until your next oil change and then flush and refill the cooling system you will be fine, that's what i did. it only takes a few miles before it will plug up a small heater core leak too. took all of five minutes with the heater on to do my sentra. |
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| Bad Bent | Feb 27 2012, 02:05 PM Post #13 |
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Facetious Educated Donkey
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I was able to pull the heater out of my Wife's '96 by pulling the dash 5-6" forward and maneuvering it out the passenger side. The bolts holding the steering wheel column in place were sealed with Loctite. Might work but then I'm not giving accurate information on this thread so take that with a grain of salt.
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The "hardest" part was removing the crank and water pump pulley and resetting the cam timing.
3:29 AM Jul 11