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pressurize cooling system - how? 200 93

posted by  someone claiming to be Robb on  Sat Dec 2 12:38 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Got a nagging coolant leak - drips out a quarter cup or so but doesn't start dripping until hours after being run. Seems to be coming from very bottom of timing belt cover but removed that and found no trace of coolant in there. No signs around the water pump or thermostat housing either. Traces of coolant go up a little bit from the bottom of the timing belt cover but disappear. There are not nearby hoses to "spout" over to the location where it it looks like its coming from. I'm stumped.

So, I have compressor and a Schraeder valve so how do I pressurized the cooling system in order to find this leak? Is it done thru the coolant resovoir cap? Maybe by epoxying in the valve? Also, how do I make sure I don't overpressurized and blow out something?

thanks,







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    Re: pressurize cooling system - how? 200 93

    posted by  someone claiming to be Steve Ringlee on  Sat Dec 2 16:02 CST 2000 [RELATED]

    The FAQ has some ideas on this: get an old reservoir cap, drill a hole and introduce a tire valve with a schraeder fitting, then using a bicycle pump pressurize to no more than about 12 pounds. Look for the leak.

    Favorite places to look include the heater hose clamps and connections, along with the water valve: if these leak, the coolant drops under the car and disappears. I like Don's idea if the car is remotely close to the lifetime of the water pump (100k+)







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    Re: pressurize cooling system - how? 200 93

    posted by  someone claiming to be Don Foster on  Sat Dec 2 13:04 CST 2000 [RELATED]

    Robb --

    Don't burst your radiator.

    I'd bet a cold one (well, maybe a hot one now) that the water pump is leaking. The pump has a weep hole on the underside of the bearing housing—where the shaft is—and when the seal begins to leak a bit, the antifreeze sneaks out there, and creeps down the front of the motor. It is virtually invisible and VERY hard to find.

    Sometimes a small mirror, such as a dental mirror, can be very handy.



    Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)







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      Re: pressurize cooling system - how? 200 93

      posted by  someone claiming to be Robb on  Sat Dec 2 14:13 CST 2000 [RELATED]

      Don,

      I don't know... I may have to give you my Fedex address for that cold one - I'll take afternoon delivery - I don't fancy beer with my breakfast.

      I had the shrould, fan and belts off and was able to get face to face with that weep hole and it looked bone dry. When I probed it with a piece of wire there was just a smidgen of white powder that fell out. I don't see how it could it be so dry and be culprit while the bottom of the timing belt cover was still wet. I assume there is just the one hole,of course. Tomorrow I'll take it for a drive and then put something under the weep hole and see if it collects any coolant. I've actually felt desperate enough to go out there and lay on the ground with a light for a couple of hours and wait for it to start seeping. But then I realize I have a life....

      Robb







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        Re: pressurize cooling system - how? 200 93

        posted by  someone claiming to be Don Foster on  Sat Dec 2 23:24 CST 2000 [RELATED]

        Robb --

        Yeah, I might owe you a cold beer, or a hot toddy, or whatever is appropriate for the season. I was looking for an easy but obscure answer for you. I've had them leak through the weep hole, and I'd swear the pump was fine 'til I stuck my finger under there and felt the drip.

        Years ago I solved a weird oil leak in a weird way. I washed down the engine to remove crud, and then sprayed underarm antiperspirant all around the suspect area. This (female) antiperspirant was the type with talcum powder—so it made a white powder coating stuck to the entire surface.

        The oil leak left a tiny black trail in the white powder.

        I don't know if you can still buy that type of underarm spray—they've probably discovered it glows in the dark, eats the ozone layer, and is the prime reason for global warming. And besides that, it gives users a itchy pits and makes 'em mean.



        Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)







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    Re: pressurize cooling system - how? 200 93

    posted by  someone claiming to be jim on  Sat Dec 2 13:00 CST 2000 [RELATED]

    I would be very careful using a compressor. 14 psi is about the max on most systems. If you have a pressure regulator, you could remove the small hose that runs from the top of the rad to the overflow tank, plug one outlet, and pressurise the other. The proper tool is a hand pump with gauge, which is either connected by teeing into the small hose, or by using a cap that goes on in place of the pressure cap. By teeing into the line you can test the release pressure of the cap, too.






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