Hi guys (and girls),
my 1992 liberty wagon has lost all coolant and overheated twice in a week. I'll take it to the mechanic tomorrow, but would like some guesses before I go there. There oil looks fine (not milky) but all coolant has left the reserve tank and the radiator. I have topped up and seems to be running fine again (not overheating as perhaps expected by head gasket etc). It originally happened on wednesday and have been driving it a bit since then, so it's probably been slowly loosing coolant since then until it had none left and overheated. Any guesses as to the reasons for this? and potential costs involved so I don't go to the mechanic with a metaphorical sign above my head saying "rip me off"?
Mark
losing coolant, overheating
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markhansen1983
- Junior Member
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- Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 8:02 am
- Location: QLD
if its not the head ill put my money on the thermostatmarkhansen1983 wrote:Hi guys (and girls),
my 1992 liberty wagon has lost all coolant and overheated twice in a week. I'll take it to the mechanic tomorrow, but would like some guesses before I go there. There oil looks fine (not milky) but all coolant has left the reserve tank and the radiator. I have topped up and seems to be running fine again (not overheating as perhaps expected by head gasket etc). It originally happened on wednesday and have been driving it a bit since then, so it's probably been slowly loosing coolant since then until it had none left and overheated. Any guesses as to the reasons for this? and potential costs involved so I don't go to the mechanic with a metaphorical sign above my head saying "rip me off"?
Mark
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steptoe
- Master Member
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- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: 14 miles outside Gotham City
really need more input from such as "I watched to see where water came from engine, and it was near inlet manifold on head" or " there are drips on white carboard I left under parked car overnight"
How long have you owned it in years and how many kilometres, what have you done as far as maintenance (can see you not topped up water as it lost it)
From experience with one EJ22 overheating and was driven until it stopped by its used caryard sales guy
, chased water leaks with inlet man gaskets and it continued to overheat even with new t stat. They gave up spending any more dosh on it and auctioned it orf.
A good old steam clean of engine bay may help but from exteral steam source please
How long have you owned it in years and how many kilometres, what have you done as far as maintenance (can see you not topped up water as it lost it)
From experience with one EJ22 overheating and was driven until it stopped by its used caryard sales guy
, chased water leaks with inlet man gaskets and it continued to overheat even with new t stat. They gave up spending any more dosh on it and auctioned it orf.A good old steam clean of engine bay may help but from exteral steam source please
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El_Freddo
- Master Member
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- Location: Bridgewater Vic
- Contact:
Things to look at:
The water pump - a small leak will result in some coolant showing up on the bottom of the cam belt cover on the passenger's side, just above where the thermostat is mounted. Coolant may even show up on the thermostat housing.
There could be a hole in your radiator - not likely but definitely something to look into. There could also be a tiny hole in any of the radiator hoses/heater hoses.
A compression test should show up any issues with a coolant leak or compromised head gasket.
Cheers
Bennie
The water pump - a small leak will result in some coolant showing up on the bottom of the cam belt cover on the passenger's side, just above where the thermostat is mounted. Coolant may even show up on the thermostat housing.
There could be a hole in your radiator - not likely but definitely something to look into. There could also be a tiny hole in any of the radiator hoses/heater hoses.
A compression test should show up any issues with a coolant leak or compromised head gasket.
Cheers
Bennie
I had this happen a few weeks ago, I start getting a Gurgle sound when I started the car, and I noticed my coolant was running out in the res. so I topped it up a few times, and what not. Got under and had a look at the thermostat, it was leaking, So I tighted it up and that worked for a little bit but then it started leaking again. So I drained it cleaned the gasket at the Thermostat (under car on my engine) got some Gasket goop (Loctite does a good one) and sealed it back up good. Seems to have done the job well.
what was the result here?
heater core system could have been faulty, which leaks coolant into ur car, and sometimes never drips through ur floor pan, therefor u dont see any drips and u get all suspicious of head-gaskets!
if theres no mix between oil and coolant (verify by looking at oil on dipstick, and whatever coolant is left) then u would doubt a major HG leak would be the case, but it can happen with no oil/coolant mix if tis a small leak.
heater core system could have been faulty, which leaks coolant into ur car, and sometimes never drips through ur floor pan, therefor u dont see any drips and u get all suspicious of head-gaskets!
if theres no mix between oil and coolant (verify by looking at oil on dipstick, and whatever coolant is left) then u would doubt a major HG leak would be the case, but it can happen with no oil/coolant mix if tis a small leak.