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Coolant leak around radiator

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Old 03-09-06, 12:52 AM
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Coolant leak around radiator

my first suspect was the radiator itself... but we removed that, filled it with water and added some 'mouth blown pressure' and it showed no leaks.

SYMPTOMS: pulling into a garage and coming to a stop we noticed coolant smoke from the front bumper intake and nose of the bonnet.
looking up into the front grill, there was a distinct coolant puddle on the centre of the top-front tank... the coolant HAS to be coming from this area as there were no visible leaks anywhere else in the engine and coolant was present.

so, we took the radiator out to check it, but it seems to have come up blank!
so, what could create a coolant leak up there? coolant hose from the filler neck? AST?

i don't beleive that it is coming from the lower side of the tank at all.
Old 03-09-06, 06:54 AM
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Yeah, check the overfill tank, AST and the hoses to them. My overfill tank was replaced by the previous owner when it developed a crack in it.
Old 03-09-06, 01:57 PM
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could the overflow tank get all the way onto the radiator if leaking? there also appeared to be some coolant on the middle of the shroud between the fans... makes me think maybe AST!
Old 03-09-06, 02:19 PM
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Probably not, but if the AST and lines are good, the tank is another place to check, just in case......
Old 03-09-06, 02:28 PM
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I had this problem with my FD. White smoke coming out of the passenger light cover area, and it turned out to be it was heated and blown out of the resevior over flow hole because my water seal was gone or going. I replaced my thermostat cap with a new one and it worked for awhile but in the end it was my water seal that had gone bye bye.
Old 03-09-06, 02:37 PM
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phew, my water seals are brand new!
this has just been rebuilt... so thats golden!

my AST has no visible cracks or anything, hence why i am confused!
Old 03-09-06, 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by weetbix13
my first suspect was the radiator itself... but we removed that, filled it with water and added some 'mouth blown pressure' and it showed no leaks.
Mouth-blown-pressure is only 2-3 psi max. The cooling system will produce 13 psi with the 0.9-bar cap. Therefore, it still could be the radiator.
Old 03-09-06, 02:54 PM
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HAHA, i know... i realised while i was trying that it was pathetic!
we are going to get it pressure tested this weekend.
Old 03-09-06, 04:45 PM
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Just get the Koyo and get it over with ;-)
Old 03-09-06, 05:23 PM
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yeah, we just had a bonus announced in our office!
daddy gonna be getting a new KOYO!
Old 03-09-06, 07:32 PM
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Congrats dude!
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