Where is the anti-freeze going?

[Rafs-T-Type]

I am loosing a lot of anti-freeze.....1/2 gallon every week and a half or so. I had a pressure test, but the pressure didn't drop. Keep in mind my truck was warm/hot for the test. My oil looks ok too. My ears are open for ideas. The radiator cap was also tested and thats all good

 

[Rivical]

I think we'd need to know the specific vehicle in question to answer without generalizing. Specific models even among company lines will have different common problems that could narrow a search.

I can tell you that I had a Ford truck that leaked from the gasket under the water pump. Not from the weep hole, the gasket. Tight quarters, the heat of the timing cover, and possibly excess coolant being thrown off by the crank pulley kept me from diagnosing where the antifreeze was going. It held pressure and temp in all conditions, just used coolant. I only discovered the source when I replaced the pump @ 200K as preventative maintanence.

Now that might help if you have a mid 90's Ford truck, but otherwise it's probably irrelevant.

 

[Rafs-T-Type]

The vehicle in question is a 1986 toyota p/u with a 22re 4 cyl 2wd. I threw some stop leak in there and am keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[WH1]

I had a seeping head gasket that bubbled sometimes in the overflow and steamed sometimes out the exhaust. Pressure checked fine and ran good. Carbon checked and it was a different story. Check your exhaust gases.

 

[Rafs-T-Type]

I had a seeping head gasket that bubbled sometimes in the overflow and steamed sometimes out the exhaust. Pressure checked fine and ran good. Carbon checked and it was a different story. Check your exhaust gases.

Did you end up changing out the HG....or did you use another solution? I'm in denial about it, but I believe it's the HG too. I need to throw some cardboard under the truck too, to see if it's leaking when it warms up......or when I park it. I really don't want to pay the state for a carbon test, but what did your high carbon content prove? -----Thanks----Jason

 

[Pronto]

I've used dye to check for leaks on my old T/A. Worked very well. Found a leak similar to what Riviacal had. Simply clean the engine, put the dye in and check it with a light. If nothing shows up after a few days then you've got something else like a intake gasket or head gasket or cracked hard part.

 

[gn4u2c]

This is easy .. 25 yr old 22re..... it needs a head gasket. why... coolant corrosion has eaten it up thats all. Just replace it and it ill not leak anymore... wait screw that who would do all that to a 25 yr old Toyota thats most likely got its share of rust. Dump a can of "block seal" in it and keep on keeping on that will hold or 3-4 years. :biggrin:

 

[charlief1]

Just got through with my neighbors truck. Head gasket finally blew and to say the least it was a mess. 85 Toyota PU with a 22RE.

 

[Rafs-T-Type]

Just got through with my neighbors truck. Head gasket finally blew and to say the least it was a mess. 85 Toyota PU with a 22RE.

How difficult was it? I have a little wrenching skills, but on my buick I left changing HG's to the pros. Also how long did it take you?

 

[charlief1]

Since it's an OHC engine do the timing chain at the same time. We couldn't figure out why he had a running issue until we took the valve cover off and saw how much slack it had in it. From tear down to assembly it's about 7 hours for a pro. If you're not ready to do it yourself then get some one to do it for you.

I charge $35 an hour if that gives you some idea of cost, not including parts and having the head resurfaced of course. This is a neighbor that trades work out with me but the parts were around $250 and the head resurfacing was $40.