coolant level question

[DavidT]

no matter how many times I add coolant (at the radiator cap) it seems to always drop to the bottom of the neck (about 5 inches or so). Also the overflow reservoir always appears to be empty (except at the very bottom where the sensor is... it appears to have the brown sludge from previous owner's Barr's stop.) Does the overflow fluid cycle throgh the system? I doubt mine does...

I thought I had a leak... but not sure. I have SOMETHING that drips a bit from the oil pan... looks like it is coming from below the lower timing belt cover AREA but it doesn't have the infamous coolant smell. I am guessing it is from the power steering..

 

[masho95]

Does the overflow fluid cycle throgh the system? I doubt mine does...

I thought I had a leak... but not sure. I have SOMETHING that drips a bit from the oil pan... looks like it is coming from below the lower timing belt cover AREA but it doesn't have the infamous coolant smell. I am guessing it is from the power steering..

Coolant is supposed to go back and forth between the overflow tube and the rest of the system as the car heats up the coolant and it cools off.

Does the leak in the lower timing belt area look anything like oil? Could be the crank seal leaking.

 

[DHMag]

if the reservior isnt filling/cycling, then the radiator cap is in need of checking/replacement. there could be a very small leak..big enough that when hot, it simply evaporates before it gets anywhere....but small enough to retain coolant when cold.

 

[ckinart]

it appears to have the brown sludge from previous owner's Barr's stop.) Does the overflow fluid cycle throgh the system? I doubt mine does...

When coolant is drawn from the reservoir, it is drawn from the bottom of the reservoir tank, so if yours has brown sludge at the bottom of it, the first thing you should do is take the reservoir out and give it a thorough cleaning. Make sure the hose that runs up the side of the reservoir tank to the radiator inlet is completely unobstructed.

 

[morpho18]

Be careful. Don't always assume that something is leaking from the most obvious spot. I was having a coolant leak, and it would appear just inside of the front passenger side wheel. I assumed waterpump. well, I finally crawled under the car to track down the leak, and what had happened is this: The coolant was dripping from the subframe, so i felt along the top ridge of it, followed it to the drivers side, got out from under the car, looked under the throttle body coolant lines, and sure enough there was my leak.

I'm glad I didn't start tearing into the motor to find a leak that wasn't there, when all I had to do to fix the problem was to do the TB coolant bypass. No more leak, all is good.

My 2 cents.