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Can dye be added to coolant? S70


Can dye be added to coolant the way it's added to freon (to check for leaks)? I'm loosing coolant (very slowly - quart every 2 months) and can't find the leak (assuming at this point it's NOT a head gasket). Would like to be sure it's not external before I pull the head.

Anyone done this? I can't think of much downside?








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    Pressure testing S70

    Have it pressure tested as previously suggested. If there's a leak, a good tech will see it leaking or notice that it's loosing pressure and if it's loosing and the source isn't obvious, then he should first look inside by the heater core tubes and core itself, then do what's called a "block check". That's done with a device using blue liquid that'll turn yellow if carbon moxoxide's bubbling though it. It's placed over the coolant bottle with the engine running and helps diagnose bad head gaskets, very rare in Volvos.
    One can go further yet by removing plugs while pressure testing and using a small telescopic flashlight or boroscope, see if coolant can be seen in any cylinders.
    I have seen coolant in a cylinder that way once and found that the block itself was cracked in between 2 cylinders (rare occurance). It was under warranty and got a new engine.








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      Pressure testing S70


      Guys, thanks for the responses!

      Pressure test showed no loss of pressure.

      "Block test" (they called it a head gasket test) resulted in "inconclusive". When I asked what they meant, the tech said "it turned a sorta blue/yellow, but not yellow". They are assuming that there's no head gasket leak because of this, but I'm not convinced. Where can I learn more about this test - maybe whoever makes the kit that dealers get it from? I'd like some evidence that even a little yellow is bad, since I'm assuming that's the case - am I right?

      BTW: I should've mentioned, this is on my Honda Odyssey, not my S70 (which has OTHER issues I won't go into here). People here seem more knowledgable than the seat of the pants people at odyclub.com.

      Thanks!








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    Can dye be added to coolant? S70

    Ditto on pablos' suggestion about the pressure test. You'll see where the coolant is leaking from right away.

    My guess, is that it's seeping out where the plastic tank meets the aluminum core on the radiator (that's where mine leaked!) I added a "tube" of Aluma-Seal (About a buck and a half) and the leak went away.

    Good Luck!
    --
    RussB in Ct. - '96 855T- '91 940T - '93 850GLT (R.I.P. 6-16-02)








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    Can dye be added to coolant? S70

    can be done, no downside just need a blacklight

    Why not pressure test the cooling system?
    --
    http://www.fidalgo.net/~brook4/oilslubesfilters.html








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      Can dye be added to coolant? S70


      Thanks (Paul?)







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