Re: Coolant Leak?

["Steve Rubano" <srubano@xxxx>]

Robert,
DMC Joe is right that the only way to find an "Invisible" coolant 
leak is to do a pressure test on the cooling system. 

If you are going to do an oil change and are looking for coolant 
leaks into the oil, you'll know. You will have green "puddles" 
floating in the oil. As for not seeing any coolant on top of the 
engine, maybe it is evaporating BUT you should still see some signs. 
For example: You should see some whitish stains so to speak on the 
metal or dry green spots. If coolant is leaking into your oil you 
could have either a bad head gasket or a bad seal that is in between 
the piston sleeve to the block (very unlikely since you would find 
oil in your antifreeze also). To determine a bad head gasket without 
taking any thing apart you need to perform a cylinder leak down test 
that requires a leak down tester and an air compressor.

If coolant is leaking into your cylinder itself, you will get that 
antifreeze burning smell. With the car running at normal operating 
temp, (outside of course)stand behind the car. You will smell sort of 
a sweet smell coming from the exhaust. That is a good indication that 
your engine is burning antifreeze. Again to check for that perform a 
Cylinder leak down test. Any mechanic should be able to do this for 
you if you don't have the correct tools. The cylinder leak down 
tester is fairly expensive.

I've had experienced (with my Jeep that has the same type cooling 
system) coolant leaking from the bottle to cap. Usually leaked as the 
engine was running. Run the car in park and open the engine cover. 
When the car gets to it's normal operating temp, watch to see if any 
anti-freeze "spits" out from the radiator cap.

let me know if any of this was helpful.

Steve
www.dmcman.homestead.com