Looking for suggestions. (1 Viewer)

[dvs73]

Looking for some direction on a potential Coolant Valley Leak. Have needed to fill the reservoir tank on several occasions over the last year on my wife's 2017 with current 106k miles. I am accepting that I have the coolant leak but have not been able to find any signs of such. in or around the intake manifold. Zero crust of the transmission bell housing and even bought a bore scope and have not been able to find any sign of coolant leak anywhere. Wondering if any one has a precise location that I should use with this scope. The radiator checks out and there is no sign of a leaking water pump.

Thanks in advance with any info....

 

[TheBussman]

how much coolant has been added for how many miles? table spoons? gallons?

 

[dvs73]

how much coolant has been added for how many miles? table spoons? gallons?

Expansion tank runs to almost empty every 2 or 3 oil changes. which for me is about every 5 -6 months between oil changes.

 

[TheBussman]

If your running 10k mile oil changes I'm coming up with a quart in 25k miles is that right? All the valley plates I've done were pretty easy to see. That's not really alot of coolant loss but it's not normal either, not sure where it's going.

 

[dvs73]

Oil changes for me are done every 5k miles. Not sure that makes any difference here.

 

[r2m]

Are there any drips of any kind in the garage/driveway, wherever you park for long periods?
Okay, sit down when you read this...
Do you see any white smoke coming out your tail pipe? If you do, I think you know where I'm going with this question.

 

[Bang Bang]

I think if you read through the DIY valley plate leak thread there are a few people who did the repair due to symptoms like yours and were glad they did it as it was leaking in a very inconspicuous place that they couldn't see. Not sure if any used a boroscope. I would be willing to bet yours is leaking.

 

[LXJake93]

Yank your rad cap and tell us what the underside of it looks like or snap a photo. Same with your oil dip stick. Hoping it's just the valley plate or something similar and not what I think it could be. And I've owned plenty of Subarus that had similar symptoms, if you know what I mean.

 

[dvs73]

Thanks for all the advice. Fortunate for me I do all my own servicing on the GX. So I know what my oil looks like upon draining and the white smoke suggestion.
We'll, after about 1.5hrs of digging with my bore scope finally found 1 leak towards the back of the coolant plate. I'm sure there has to be more just can't seem to find them. My indy is scheduled to work on the plate for me (since time is an issue for me) this coming week. Just wanted to see the leak with my own eyes before having this job done.

 

[dvs73]

Sorry for the low quality pic. Scope does not take still shots or video.

 

[LXJake93]

Looks like you caught it super early. I need to get me one of them bore scopes!

 

[xychromosome]

I have a similar rate of coolant loss on my 2015. Surprised to see a 2017 with this issue as it looked like it was only on 2014s and older based on reports I had been reading. I guess this will just be a maintenance issue that comes up after a certain age/mileage on all GX460s.

 

[LXJake93]

Dunno if mine had been done in the past but currently seeming fine at 146k, 2010 base. How many bananas is the job though? From videos I've seen it seems totally bananas.

 

[dvs73]

Looks like you caught it super early. I need to get me one of them bore scopes!

Best $35 spent. Amazon is your friend.

 

[r2m]

Sorry for the low quality pic. Scope does not take still shots or video.

View attachment 3699117

BINGO!!!