Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Still Loosing Coolant?

[RowJ]

Pressure testing indicated possible head/gasket problem. No visable stains or leaks but maybe between cylinders?



Paid lots of money and now have nice, flat, fireringed head to handle any bombs I want to throw at it... . but still loosing coolant?



Loosing most of fluid in reservoir bottle over 3 days. As mentioned - no stains, no smells, no smoke, no drips, no puddles, no contamination of glycol in oil sample.



Someone mentioned last month about evaporation when using block heater. ! Possible? Anyone else see this?



Any other ideas will be greatly appriciated.

 

[CumminsAholic]

My truck is kinda the same way. If I fill up the coolant bottle it'll empty out, I can't find where from, but it was usually on the passenger side fenderwell you could definately tell it was leaking, it scared the crap outta me at first. However, my coolant level in the radiator is always the same (it doesn't use any coolant, just what's in the overflow). I posted about this a long time ago. Never found the problem, I actually quit looking for it. It's been like that for well over a year and I haven't had any problems, I checked the overflow tank and I don't think it has any leaks, but it must... I'll get a new one someday and try that. Good luck... maybe we share the same problem?? It's wierd that you can't find at least a drip though.

Corey

 

[bmoeller]

I see you have an auto, do you have any coolant in the transmission fluid? If so, check the heat exchanger under the turbo.



Does your overflow bottle leak?

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Try looking into the "weep" hole in the water pump. I don't have any direct experience with it but my understanding from the manual is that if the pump is worn out fluid will leak out out of the weep hole. I don't even know exactly where it is on the pump to be honest.

 

[RowJ]

Thanks

Bottle does not leak that I can tell.



Coolant in transmission Fluid? Can't quit picture how that happens. Really possible? Will check it out!



Forgot about the weep hole theory - someone had mentioned that once before. Will check that to.



Not loosing sleep like I was when I thought it was ooooozing into the block - but still would like to solve mystery.



Nobody buying (or expirienced) the block heater evaporation idea?

 

[Challenger-II]

Re: Thanks

Originally posted by RowJ

Nobody buying (or expirienced) the block heater evaporation idea?

I dont buy it. My coolant level in my bottle has stay the same over the past two winters using the block heater. Never had to ever add any fluid. Time for me to change it though this spring. Good luck in finding it.

 

[RowJ]

Thanks, Coolant evaporation made little sense to me also, based on low temp at start up.



BMoeller - If coolant & ATF ever did come in contact - wouldn't higher pressures in transmission fluid turn coolant red, instead of coolant contamination ATF? I believe coolant systen is only 15 lb pressurized system. transmission fluid is much higher than that - no?



Rowland

 

[Tom W]

This sounds like my problem which turned out to be a leak just above the drain valve. It leaked for several months without showing any leak spots on the ground. It gradually got worse and is now leaking about a cup a day. I have a new radiator on order.

Tom

 

[Wheaties]

I recently solved my coolant loss problem. The mechanic discovered that there is a freeze out plug on the very back of the head (facing the firewall) that was weeping. In the end, it was coming out at a pretty good rate. It ran down the back of the block, and down the passenger side of the transmission. I was sure it was the head gasket, but it was just this freeze out plug. Turns out Cummins packed the hole with two plugs, total cost to replace, $1. 00



Hope this helps,

Matt

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by RowJ



BMoeller - If coolant & ATF ever did come in contact - wouldn't higher pressures in transmission fluid turn coolant red, instead of coolant contamination ATF?

Probably, but would depend on why it was leaking. Some things leak under pressure while others don't.



The heat exchanger is built kind of like a radiator. Rows of tubes inside that the oil travels through with coolant that flows around the outside wall of the tubes. The coolant being cooler, like air passing through the radiator, cools the transmission fluid.



The weep hole on the water pump would be a good place to start. Also lossen the belt and see if the bearings in the water pump are in good shape.

 

[RowJ]

BM

Thanks again!

 

[OTRPU]

I was losing coolant a couple ways. Got hot and percolated out the recovery bottle. This was obvious. Slight stain, left front of engine when facing it, just a white trickle trail. Never saw it wet, just dried. DOC looked, said prolly the head gasket failing to the outside, has seen them run forever doing that. Less than two months later it failed to the inside. They don't make very good steam engines. . . cracks in 5 of 6 holes in the head, prolly all 6, just too fine to see without x-ray. Wish I'd replaced that gasket sooner.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[CFast]

have you tried pulling the turbo to check the ex manifold? you could be burning a little. until it turns into alot, then you get a new engine.