Absolute Mystery - Where is is Going !?!?

[BreckenridgeCruiser]

So, I finally get the truck back on the road (alcan suspension correction and turbo remount with copper gaskets), and I damn near overheat. I park the car and get a ride home and come back today to check it out. All last night I was running the options through my head: t-stat, head crack, head gasket, etc.

So I get to the rig today and check the oil level, and coolant level. The oil is fine if a bit low, and the coolant was low. I fill almost a gallon into the rad and burped it. I drove it home and the temp was normal.

So, A little history. I have always had a coolant loss issue since I bought the rig. I have replaced the rad cap and have pressure tested the system. I saw one major leak and I replaced that hose. I have to admit (sheepishly) that I have not replaced the rest of the hoses and didn't check them too hard.

After this recent workup on the truck, where it was sitting for over a month and only driven a few feet to and from the garage, The oil level has not gone up, I have not noticed a sweet smelling exhaust, I have not seen ANY drips on the floor of the garage. I live in a area where there is around 10-20% humidity.

WHERE IS THE COOLANT GOING? CAN IT JUST SEEP AND DRY A WHOLE GALLON IN TWO MONTHS WiTHOUT DRIPPING?

 

[BEE-JAY42]

Look for a powdery white residue, this is what is left over after all the water has evaporated. It could be a tiny weep somewhere.

 

[Mr. Toad]

Did they have to drain any coolant to do the turbo work?

 

[lostmarbles]

Sounds like you need to pressurise the coolant system and check for leaks.

 

[Mtrunner]

If it is evaporating, then the dry mountain air can only help speed things along....

 

[BreckenridgeCruiser]

I did the turbo install and all associated work and drained the system and refilled it before it sat for two to three months.

 

[Coolerman]

Did you burp it the FIRST time after the turbo work? Maybe it was never full to begin with.

 

[Texx]

Sorry to say it, but a sweet smelling exhaust is a dead on indicator of a bad head gasket or cracked head. A bad head gasket will drink water every time it's run.

 

[FineWynsFJ40]

x2 on what Texx said. Might want to take a look into that.

 

[Sno bored]

Sorry to say it, but a sweet smelling exhaust is a dead on indicator of a bad head gasket or cracked head. A bad head gasket will drink water every time it's run.

He said he did not notice a sweet smelling exhaust. I think what BJ said is what is happening. You must have a slow weep, that is evaporating and that is why you don't see any puddles. I hear it's pretty dry where you live.

 

[alkarich]

He stated "he has not noticed a sweet smelling exhaust". So check your hoses. How old are they? Maybe just replace if they are old.

Since you are snow country it should be easy to spot a leak.

Good luck.

 

[MoCoNative]

Do you have a rear heater? Do you have floor mats, or factory floor coverings or something?

Could be a leak, under the mat, near the rear heater, due to hoses or the core. Coolant is soaked up under the floor mat, may, or may not show up as a leak outside the vehicle. May not be appearant during the cooler temps this fall, as odor in the cab.

My rear heater is the older round style, but twice now the tank has cracked loose, and resulted in one hell of a slow leak and mess, that was easy to miss. I have some custom mats I made, it runs under them and gets soaked up, until you notice it somewhere.

Also, check the weep hole on the water pump. I've seen pumps, that still operate fine, but are weeping, you may not loose as much as you have there, but you will loose it, and it tends to evaporate away there. Will need a mirror on a stick most likely to see any residue under the weep hole. Hoses can do this too. I live in similar climate conditions, it can happen.

I still wouldn't rule out you were low to begin with, air bubble finally worked up to the head, made you overheat, and then got out to the radiator after you shut it down.

 

[BreckenridgeCruiser]

after you fill the rad (and burp) and the overflow tank to the full line, have you ever seen it spit a bit without an overheat? can you overfill the system?

 

[Plowboy]

after you fill the rad (and burp) and the overflow tank to the full line, have you ever seen it spit a bit without an overheat? can you overfill the system?

sounds like air being pumped back through the radiator===blown head gasket or a crack in the combustion chamber of the head

 

[green40]

Do you have an overflow tank?
If not its just pissing coolant out.
When I got my 40 there was no tank,
coolant was always low. Put a tank on and
haven't had any issues since.

 

[amaurer]

after you fill the rad (and burp) and the overflow tank to the full line, have you ever seen it spit a bit without an overheat? can you overfill the system?

My 3B does that same thing. I had a thread on it just recently too. I'm replacing everything this weekend.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/262608-overflow-tank.html?highlight=coolant

 

[nuclearlemon]

by a tracer dye kit and put some dye in the rad system before teh next tiem you park it.

 

[BreckenridgeCruiser]

I have a tank and I haven't noticed any coolant in the oil. If I had a HG issue, wouldn't that allow coolant into the oil?

 

[Texx]

He stated "he has not noticed a sweet smelling exhaust". So check your hoses. How old are they? Maybe just replace if they are old.

Since you are snow country it should be easy to spot a leak.

Good luck.

Ah hell....old eyes Anyway, if it's drinkin water....head gasket based on my experience.

 

[Plowboy]

I have a tank and I haven't noticed any coolant in the oil. If I had a HG issue, wouldn't that allow coolant into the oil?

Do a compression check