Coolant Smell & Decreasing Reservoir

[N3FOL]

I would like to know where exactly I can find the heater core hose that is located next to the firewall. Is it on the driver or passenger side of the car? I did a search and this might be my problem...the hose clamps might just need some tightening.

My reservoir goes down after 3 or 4 days of driving, but there is absolutely no coolant leaks that I can visibly see underneathe of the car. When I turn on the heater, the inside of the car does not 'fog up', which might indicate a bad heater core.

 

[SHOZ123]

In the middle of the firewall.

 

[N3FOL]

In the middle of the firewall.

This means I will have to go underneathe the car to access?

 

[SHOZ123]

No, that would be the hard way. Have you gone out and look over the rear of the engine at the firewall?

 

[N3FOL]

Firewall - Heater core hose

No, that would be the hard way. Have you gone out and look over the rear of the engine at the firewall?

The last time I did was when I took off the intake for maintenance. So if it is in the middle of the firewall, I can just access it under the hood. I really hope this is all it needs to stop the coolant smell and my reservior going down.

 

[SHOtimer]

They are the two hoses that go into the firewall almost directly behind the corner of the intake where the EGR is, or is not.

You might also want to inspect the radiator for leaks, and the rest of the hoses in the system.....the rad hoses, and is your water pump leaking?

Doug

 

[N3FOL]

Waterpump

They are the two hoses that go into the firewall almost directly behind the corner of the intake where the EGR is, or is not.

You might also want to inspect the radiator for leaks, and the rest of the hoses in the system.....the rad hoses, and is your water pump leaking?

Doug

Doug,
That is what I am afraid of also. It might be my waterpump leaking, because the smell is much more pronounced in that side of the engine. I do not see any leakage on the radiator and all rubber hoses...in fact, the radiator is only two years old (lifetime warranty) and all rubber hoses are also two years old.

So if the waterpump is leaking, I would assume that since I do not see any coolant on the ground...the coolant is pretty much evaporating due to the heat of the engine. Does my assumption makes sense?

 

[SHOtimer]

Doug,
That is what I am afraid of also. It might be my waterpump leaking, because the smell is much more pronounced in that side of the engine. I do not see any leakage on the radiator and all rubber hoses...in fact, the radiator is only two years old (lifetime warranty) and all rubber hoses are also two years old.

So if the waterpump is leaking, I would assume that since I do not see any coolant on the ground...the coolant is pretty much evaporating due to the heat of the engine. Does my assumption makes sense?

Yes, well sort of. When the water pump leaks the coolant drips down and hits the Y pipe then evaporates before it touches the ground. You can examine the very bottom of the lower timing cover and see if you see any coolant drips down there, or if it is wet. If it is more pronounced on that side of the motor it is probably your water pump.....60k time.

Doug

 

[N3FOL]

Yes, well sort of. When the water pump leaks the coolant drips down and hits the Y pipe then evaporates before it touches the ground. You can examine the very bottom of the lower timing cover and see if you see any coolant drips down there, or if it is wet. If it is more pronounced on that side of the motor it is probably your water pump.....60k time.

Doug

Doug,

That makes sense. However, if I am going to do that part of the 60K maintenance - I will have to just replace the water pump. I did my last 60K at 103K and I am right now at 159K+ miles. The timing belt should still be ok and the CPS. (SHO ATX) I wonder if NAPA will replace my water pump, since I bought the re-manufactured part from them. I'll have to give them a call.

 

[N3FOL]

re: Update - Coolant Smell - decreasing reservoir

I finally pinpointed where my coolant is leaking. It appears to be coming from the water pump area. The timing cover has coolant residue and before it hits the ground...the coolant will just evaporate after hitting the cats. My SHO is still driveable, but I will have to replace my water pump in the near future and maybe my timing belt as well...but the belt has only 55K on it.(???) As far as my water pump is concerned, I bought a remanufactured water pump from NAPA three years ago...I hope this has a lifetime warranty.

 

[SHOtimer]

As long as you are in there you should replace the belt - they are rather cheap. As for the water pump, the one you bought at Napa should still be good, however I would buy the $7 Fel-pro water pump gasket kit - it has a much higher quality gasket for the water pump, and it also comes with the O-rings you will need.

I would also replace the CPS - since it has had coolant contamination on it...and if the crank seal is leaking this is an opportune time to do that also. For the crank seal and CPS I would go with www.fastpartsnetwork.com

People have had fitment issues with non-Ford front seals, and the ford CPS seems to be superior to others.

Here is a helper:
http://www.shophoenixproject.com/lower60k/lower60k.htm

Doug

 

[yamapowered]

coolant loss

I would like to know where exactly I can find the heater core hose that is located next to the firewall. Is it on the driver or passenger side of the car? I did a search and this might be my problem...the hose clamps might just need some tightening.

My reservoir goes down after 3 or 4 days of driving, but there is absolutely no coolant leaks that I can visibly see underneathe of the car. When I turn on the heater, the inside of the car does not 'fog up', which might indicate a bad heater core.

I have had that same insane problem, mine was the u bend hose at the oil filter/oil cooler, it had a pin hole that leaked only when hot and ****** it on the floor only at speed, so much time passed and a few gallons of coolant, before I started having rough sex with all the hoses and molesting all the hoses while hot and with pressure, as I squeezed the hoses with pressure it made enough to **** out the hole, finally I found the SOB that pos was at me the whole time,

 

[AREA 91]

sooo true

 

[N3FOL]

Re: Coolant Leak

SHOtimer, et al...

Thanks for the input. I gave NAPA a phone call today and they said that the AI Cardone waterpump that I bought had a lifetime warranty to it with receipt. Luckily, I always save my SHO receipts. As soon as I can get a good weekend to work on the SHO, I will go ahead and replace the timing belt as well. Thanks for mentioning the CPS, I did not even think about that. If I can remember it correctly, I paid about $35 for a CPS from Roackauto 5 years ago.

Regards.