Got a coolant question

[Philk]

So I posted this in the main 80 section, but I'd thought I would post it here to see if anybody has any words of wisdom...

Please disregard my first post, bonehead question/observation on the side of the road. No overheating, I just seem to be loosing/using coolant/fluid when the A/C is on.



Thoughts?

 

[MoJ]

With limited info to go on I'll guess PHH, One of the coolant hoses located at the firewall, or a pin hole radiator leak. Any of those are known to leak without showing. Any more details/symptoms?

 

[Philk]

Here's some more details....

MoJ-

Thanks for the input. Yes, PHH is what I was leaning towards. Here are the symptoms. I have not had any type of coolant/fluid leak all winter. I tried to use the A/C about a month ago and noticed it wasn't blowing cold air. I charged the system and at the time, I noticed that my overflow tank was empty.

I filled it up. Drove for a week, no fluid/coolant loss and I didn't use the A/C at all. Then last week, I used the A/C again to take the to dinner and then the next morning, the overflow tank was low.

There's no visible puddles anywhere under the truck, so then my mind started churning, uh oh....head gasket. I pulled the dipstick and no peanut butter...the oil looked cleaner than I think I have ever seen in any of my cars. Now, it could be burning it through the exhaust, but I don't have any sweet smell coming from the exhaust.

I have noticed some whitish "smoke" on startup, but only on semi cold mornings, and our VW does the same thing. So, I am hoping it's not the head gasket.

The trigger seems to be running the A/C, but with as much fluid that disappears, I'd have to see a puddle somewhere, wouldn't I?

Thanks,
Phil

 

[REKCUT]

I am not sure what the ac would have to do with the PHH> Other than running the ac will task the engine a little more. But i would thinks not that much. Have a way to monitor the temp of the coolant and see it that is related. YOu can loose a lot of coolant and not see a puddle. NOw if you want to check the phh I would suggest getting one of the pressure systems you can borrow at oriellys. On mine the rad cap was bad and not letting the system come up to pressure and i couldnt find the leak when i was still. I put the little pimp on the cap and it instantly started spraying out the leak at the PHH hose.

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

? Pimp on the cap? I am unfamiliar with that radiator testing process.. Please do tell.. Perhaps a picture of said pimp on a cap?

 

[Philk]

Latest update

Interestingly enough I was out at Superior Toyota and ran in and had them pressurize the system and test, no notable leak, accept they said maybe at "some" hose by the firewall.

Then he said we will just drain and fill it with pink stuff and I said hold your horses hommie. I have read bad things about the pink stuff and I should only use Toyota Red (if that's what's in there) or green if not. So, I told them to add some distilled water back in and I will do a complete flush and refill and get a new t-stat and upper and lower rad hoses while I'm in there and I am going to send off and get a gates hose for a PHH-ectomy.

So hopefully I'll find out what's going on.

 

[REKCUT]

Pressure pump is what I am talking about. YOu can borrow them from auto parts stores like oriellys. They charge you a deposit for it and give it back to you when you bring it back. They have lots of useful tools. It goes on the radiation in place of the cap and you pump it up to pressure. Will force any leaks to show themself

 

[REKCUT]

Something like this

 

[MoJ]

Interestingly enough I was out at Superior Toyota and ran in and had them pressurize the system and test, no notable leak, accept they said maybe at "some" hose by the firewall.

Then he said we will just drain and fill it with pink stuff and I said hold your horses hommie. I have read bad things about the pink stuff and I should only use Toyota Red (if that's what's in there) or green if not. So, I told them to add some distilled water back in and I will do a complete flush and refill and get a new t-stat and upper and lower rad hoses while I'm in there and I am going to send off and get a gates hose for a PHH-ectomy.

So hopefully I'll find out what's going on.

"maybe some hose at the firewall". There's a heater control valve located at the top of the firewall. You'll notice heater hoses running out either side. The valve opens/closes as you adjust the cabin temp. I can't recall the exact operation but I suppose it could be possible that depending on where you have the temp set, one of the corresponding hoses could leak. Take a very detailed look while you have the AC on and someone applying a bit of throttle. You can also clean the surrounding area to help you spot any coolant spraying from the leak. Or, rig up some paper towels and then look for evidence.

The cloudy exhaust you mentioned at start up is normal. It will even have a slight chemical smell to it.

 

[IBCRUSN]

The '95+ models have a tendency for the HG to fail internally and rarely present any external signs like the '93 & '94's. It would seem odd that it would only lose coolant when the A/C is on but if the HG is beginning to fail the leak may be small. If you have access to a leak down tester (differential pressure tester) check #5 & 6 cylinders in particular. If the PHH is okay the next best external checks is the plumbing going to the aft heater core.