Goblin blood on my garage floor

[nfpgasmask]

OK, so, nice and sunny today. I can actually see under the hood now.

First, let me say, since I posted this thread, here is how much coolant I have lost:



And, thinking back, I am pretty sure that the tank was about halfway between MIN and MAX before I left Chicago a couple months ago. So, it must have been loosing juice probably for about a month now...

This shot is from underneath, about dead center. The arrows point to where I think the juice is pooling, and then dripping down from.



With hood open and the sun shining I can see another spot looking down, about dead center behind the serp belt where it looks like some more dripping has taken place.



AND THEN! I see this, up around the hoses on top of the fan housing:



Its just a huge mess under the hood and I don't know wtf to do.

I'm gonna try to clean it off under there as much as I can today, so I can try to isolate the leak(s). Also, how safe is it for me to hose off under the hood? Can I spray my hose down there without any risk of damage? Or should I just try to clean the underside?

I don't want to make the problem worse.

Thanks for the help,

Bart

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

As Tone already mentioned above...it sounds like you should check as best you can under the intake. Here is a thread below that could help you with your problem.

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...hlight=coolant

[nfpgasmask]

Roger that Roger, and thanks for the link. I read through that thread and this definitely seems like a possibility, which totally sucks cause it looks like this is going to be something I cannot fix myself, and something that isnt going to be cheap to have a shop fix. I am already planning to do a brake/rotor bearing repack, and that is gonna cost me at least $400 when all is said and done, and if this leak problem persists, I am probably going to be out at least another $600 for labor, and probably a few hundred more for parts. And I DON'T have 2 cars. The VX is it.

On a good note, were ever it is leaking from, it seems that it is leaking REALLY slow. I took my VX to the self-car wash today. They have one of those power washers so I hosed off the under belly pretty good.

Which reminds me, is it safe to pressure wash under the hood? Or is this a bad idea?

Anyway, I stopped at Kragen and bought a jug of Prestone universal 50/50 and filled up my reservoir to the MAX line. So, I will watch it from this point forward. The thing that seems weird to me is that I don't think it is chronically leaking, I think it is only leaking sometimes.

The worst part of all this is that I don't have 2 pennies to rub together right now, so an expensive shop visit may have to wait a couple weeks.

As far as looking around the intake, I don't even know what that is. Is this where the airbox pulls air into the engine? I will have to fire up the manual and see what I can see.

I haven't even had my VX for a year, and I've only got 38,000 miles on it.
Sheesh. Talk about a high maintenance vehicle.

Bart

As Tone already mentioned above...it sounds like you should check as best you can under the intake. Here is a thread below that could help you with your problem.

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...hlight=coolant

[IndianaVX]

bart,
im no master mechanic by any means, but when you are filling up the resevour, are you sure that the radiator is full also?? otherwise, if the rad is low, and the resivor is full, when the engine warms up, it would drop the level in the res. dramaticly, and make you think you are loosing alot. also, when the engine is upp and warm, have you done any sqeezing on the hoses??? SOMETIMES, when you sqeeze the hoses and everything is under pressure,you can cause the leak to actually "squirt, or spray" instead of just drip, and be hard to find. so get your flashlight, or 1000 million candlepoweer spotlight, and start looking between the radiator fin while your squeesing the hose, look at seams while squeezing, and so on and so on. anywhere there is a hose, or connection, the drain nut tranny lines, etc. any leak can be deceptive from it leaking, and the air blowing that leak allover the place makes it harder to pinpoint. dont know, just trying to help. maybe this is obviouse stuff. good luck with it.......im pullin for ya
david

[Ldub]

Which reminds me, is it safe to pressure wash under the hood? Or is this a bad idea?

As far as looking around the intake, I don't even know what that is. Is this where the airbox pulls air into the engine? I will have to fire up the manual and see what I can see.Bart

Pressure washing under hood probably isn't a good idea...lots of electrical connections etc. that hate water...especially high press. water that can get into places it shouldn't be.

Here's a pic with some red things indicating where to look...


See if you can trace the thing that the middle red thing is pointing to (that the upper radiator hose attaches to), back under the intake manifold where it attaches to the block...this valley under the intake is most likely where your leak is.
There are heater hoses, thermostat housing, etc. under there that could be the scource.
BTW, you'll need a flashlight...

[nfpgasmask]

OK, so, my VX has been sitting all night in the cold garage.

The level of my fluid in the reservoir has dropped almost 3/4" since yesterday!! But, there is no sign of a leak??? No puddle, no wetness underneath, nothing!

I opened the radiator cap, and fluid is right there at the top, nice and green. Since the truck has been sitting for 12 hours, could the pressure drop and thus cause the fluid level in the reservoir to drop? I guess I will find out in a little while after I drive around for a bit.

One thing I did test: I stopped running the heat (not to my wife's liking, but) and it seems the leaking has stopped or is going somewhere I cannot see at least. I guess I should try blasting the heat and see if more fluid comes out. I know you said I would notice a smell or wetness in the truck if it was my heater core, but...????

This is frustrating....

Bart

[Tone]

I suggested pressure washing UNDER the engine where the leak was seen in filth but there is nothing under the hood that can't handle water or if there is, I'd want to know about it now instead of stranded on the road. Remember, vehicles operate OUTSIDE. Of course you don't put the tip of the 1500psi washer right on anything but 12-18" is not a problem.

I just reviewed the new pics and if it is not under the intake manifold (no answer on the smell question...) then the o'rings on the front coolant manifold (where the top radiator and heater hose attach) is more suspect. It will typically only leak under pressure and bleed and stop once the engine is off. It took me a while to find it on mine and if vehicle is used for short trips only, it may not show the leak until a longer trip is taken.

[nfpgasmask]

OK Tone, thanks man. As far as smell goes, there is a faint ting of antifreeze under the hood after a good drive, but no visible vaporization or anything. The small is probably from the warm engine vaporizing the coolant that is spilled down there. I have seen no steam or anything. I'm gonna do some more testing today. I have to take my wife to the mall ( ) and its a good hwy drive to get there so I will report back later with the details.

Everyone, thanks for the help.

Bart

I suggested pressure washing UNDER the engine where the leak was seen in filth but there is nothing under the hood that can't handle water or if there is, I'd want to know about it now instead of stranded on the road. Remember, vehicles operate OUTSIDE. Of course you don't put the tip of the 1500psi washer right on anything but 12-18" is not a problem.

I just reviewed the new pics and if it is not under the intake manifold (no answer on the smell question...) then the o'rings on the front coolant manifold (where the top radiator and heater hose attach) is more suspect. It will typically only leak under pressure and bleed and stop once the engine is off. It took me a while to find it on mine and if vehicle is used for short trips only, it may not show the leak until a longer trip is taken.