Interesting anti-freeze leak...thoughts?

[askeyey]

So I've had my '88 62 for about a month now. I was previously a 4Runner guy. I'm no expert but I'm definitely not a rookie mechanic either. So here's what I've got...

Over Thanksgiving I couldn't resist tackling the knucle rebuild that was the only thing my 62 needed when I got it. My father-in-law just built his dream house with a fully equiped four stall garage and shop. There were to many clean tools not to do the job there. You should have seen him...he was so upset about all the grease he wouldn't talk to me until everything was clean.

So the rebuild went well with no issues at all thanks to about a hundred trips to the birfield rebuild page and a healthy dose of patience. Oh..and I have a 54mm 1/2" socket...anyone in NY need to borrow it?

When I went to lower the truck after about 8 hours on the jack stands I noticed about a 12" diameter puddle of clean antifreeze on the floor and it appears to have dripped down from the firewall. I cleaned it all up and it hasn't leaked since. any thoughts on where this might have come from. the rear heater works great, but the front blows lots of barely warm air. Since i'm new to the 3fe and can't see down the back of the engine I'm not sure where it could have come from.

The engine and tranny were rebuilt 50k ago and the engine compartment is spotless...looks like it hasn't been offroad in quite some time, but since it came with 33s and a 2.5" OME..it sure will. Especially when i move out of NY and to SLC at the end of the winter.

Thanks...Austin

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Welcome to Mud.
We could guess, but that's not gonna get you very far.
Don't rely on guesses. Get a UV dye kit for a few $ and have at it. You'll know where it is after a few mins of looking.

 

[coolotisdog]

My 87 FJ60 has random antifreeze leaks too. Once in a while I will go out and see a hose that is leaking, but then the next day there will be nothing under the engine. I look underneath and I can see clearly which hose is dripping, but then the next day or even a few hours later after driving around its not leaking. Its weird, but I am assuming the weather is messing with the hoses (hot and cold expand/contract theory)?

 

[Norris Marshak]

Add dye. Run the truck to warm. Turn off the truck. Then pressure check the cooling system. This should give you a good read on the situation. You may have a clamp or two or...in need of tightening.

 

[askeyey]

Add dye. Run the truck to warm. Turn off the truck. Then pressure check the cooling system. This should give you a good read on the situation. You may have a clamp or two or...in need of tightening.

I looked for a dye kit at the local parts store and they didn't have one. Are they normally stocked at auto zone or advanced?

When I track one down will the instructions be self explanitory. i'm guessing I put in a specific amount of dye, run the truck like you said and then just check around with the UV light that comes with the kit? Any other tricks or things to look for?

Thanks

 

[Norris Marshak]

I'm not sure the dye is such a big deal. The pressure test of the cooling system should give you a read on the situation. If you don't have or can't borrow the pressurizer take the truck to a regular repair shop. The test shouldn't cost much and you won't get your hands dirty. Besides, if you can sneak back into the shop when the truck is on the lift, you'll be able to assess what leaks or issues you may need/want to address next. If you remain stumped, take the truck to a radiator repair shop. Let us know how you made out. N.M.

 

[MANUCHAO]

The two hoses near the fire wall ( Im guessing they are the heater hoses) leak from time to time.. and the antifreeze travels from the fire wall all the way back to where the TC is... I was stump at first but then I figured it out...... make sure you get a good set of hose clamps.. Im using a home depot brand and really need to change them for better ones..

Any idea where and what are the best clamps out there... ?

 

[askeyey]

The two hoses near the fire wall ( Im guessing they are the heater hoses) leak from time to time.. and the antifreeze travels from the fire wall all the way back to where the TC is... I was stump at first but then I figured it out...... make sure you get a good set of hose clamps.. Im using a home depot brand and really need to change them for better ones..

Any idea where and what are the best clamps out there... ?

So...I had the truck on the lift at the hobby shop at work today for an hour or two...just a quick oil change and overall check ( ok, ok... I was poking around at everything, admiring my new machine)...couldn't find any leak at all whatsoever...

i did find a sticker near the radiator when I was filling her back up...it was from 2002 and explained the coolant had UV dye added to it and could be checked with a UV light...common sense would tell me that since the PO installed a new radiator that all the uv dye would have been flushed...does the dye hang around at all after the radiator is flushed?...that also begs the question, how long DOES the dye stay active?