Coolant leak location ? (1 Viewer)

[BullElk]

2000 LX
Intermittent coolant leak hasn’t been the easiest to trace down. Only leaks while warm and under pressure. Pics of two areas and all I can find. One on engine side of A/C compressor and other one above water pump. Perhaps water pump weeping?

 

[rexington14]

Difficult to tell. Looks pretty minor. Are you having to add coolant? Check throttle body coolant hoses too.

And aren't you the guy that goes 400k before changing the timing belt? If so, I'd think water pump

 

[BullElk]

This is the LX my son drives. It has 280,000 miles and I believe about 80,000 on last timing belt service from the previous owner.

Yes, do have to add about a half of a quotesome days.

 

[MongooseGA]

Damn, now you've got a reputation

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Can't tell much from those pics. Dry it off, look for new wet areas.

 

[BullElk]

More info.....My first check on things when son gets home with LX.... I let it idle to operating temp., I see coolant leaking out from under the non OEM rad cap thats been on there for a few years now. That coolant drips from top of rad to splash guard runs down to control arm and to ground. So I just know that is the culprit.

Next day I go get a toyota OEM cap. Let idle to operating temp. No leak from under cap at all. But do see the leak coming from engine side of compressor like I mentioned before. Now this evening I do it again....operating temp, no cap leak and no leak anywhere else. Let it run awhile. Not a drop on mat underneath while running or after turning engine off. Huhhhh???

See no seeping fluid or crust on any of the small pipes or hoses. Crazy

 

[Import Driver]

The housing that holds the thermostat has two gaskets (excluding the one on the thermostat). The round gasket (left) shrinks and starts to leak. The right gasket goes into the top of the water pump. The thermostat housing is just below and to the left of the throttle body.

Assuming that's the throttle body in your last pic then perhaps that's the round object just barely showing on the far left of the pic is the gasket in referring to. I would start looking into that.

 

[2001LC]

One of the benefits, of using Toyota coolant. It leaves a crusty red/pink build-up. Make spotting leaks easy.

When engine warms up, hoses, fittings, heads, ect. expand tightening. That's why coolant pressure test, is done with warm engine. But one can pressurize to ~15 PSI, cold as a first.

The water crossover pipe, uses an O-ring. If not installed properly or reused, may leak. Pipe comes from the heater Tee, cross valley to front of engine to back of water pump. Connect to water pump, with small O-ring. This O-ring is replaced when doing a Timing belt/water pump service.

Coolant leaks seen below BK1 (LH side) side of block. May be flowing from elsewhere, downhill in direction vehicle tilted.

It also can be from block to oil cooler hose. Shop when replacing rack & pinion. Often remove this hose for oil cooler. If not replaced it's a 50 /50 chance it leaks.

Head gasket must also be looked at.
With under shielding off. Look up from below with flash light at where heads meet block (head gasket).

A bit more difficult. It also possible to look under intake manifold, at head gasket. Borescope or drain snake camera is hand.

 

[jpneely]

Difficult to tell. Looks pretty minor. Are you having to add coolant? Check throttle body coolant hoses too.

And aren't you the guy that goes 400k before changing the timing belt? If so, I'd think water pump

lol making me feel better about having 90k on my current timing belt. Should have it replaced in the next 5k miles or so.

 

[BullElk]

lol making me feel better about having 90k on my current timing belt. Should have it replaced in the next 5k miles or so.

Makes you feel better to spend three times the money on timing belt services than actually needed? Saving $2500 makes me feel better than better. ?

 

[Rhetoric]

Makes you feel better to spend three times the money on timing belt services than actually needed? Saving $2500 makes me feel better than better. ?

$2500 is cheaper than the shade I would get from my wife and kids if we were dead on the side of the road in some 20 year old Luxo SUV.

But I do this work myself so I am only in it for parts.