S2000 Under The Hood S2000 Technical and Mechanical discussions.

Can't find a coolant leak

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Old 01-06-2007, 06:58 PM
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Default Can't find a coolant leak

Backed out of my driveway, noticed a coolant puddle.

looked under the car, saw it dripping from where the oil pan connects to the transmission, near about where the firewall is.

from above the engine bay, i can't see the leak anywhere. but there is a small puddle of coolant near the bottom of the intake manifold...and another small puddle of coolant above the oil pan...i don't see anything on the exhaust side. I THINK i see some coolant behind the engine, but it's too narrow for me to be able to tell.

does anybody have any idea which hose or where the leak is coming from?

Pictures would help!

Thanks.

Jeff
Old 01-07-2007, 12:34 PM
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What mods have you done? Have you done anything to the engine recently?

You can get a dye additive to put in to your coolant if you really want to find the source. Available at Kragen/Napa places...
Old 01-07-2007, 02:37 PM
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no mods.

i took out the head to fix bent valves and reassembled the head...that's all.
Old 01-07-2007, 03:33 PM
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it could possibly be coming from the heater core.
Old 01-07-2007, 03:40 PM
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what you need to do is buy one of those kits from autozone...that put's a uv dye in the antifreeze and then use the light or whatnot to see where its coming from. on my last car i had a coolant leak only after rev'ing it past 5k it was literally the size of a freakin pinhole that you couldn't even tell without bending teh hose with your fingers to stretch it enough to see the hole...it was def a pain in the ass to find but hell i found it..either that or have someone rev your car while the hood is open...once it gets hot enough you should see where its spraying out.
Old 01-08-2007, 12:52 PM
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I found it.

the intake manifold was not torqued down tight enough.

cool.
Old 01-08-2007, 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by jyeung528,Jan 7 2007, 03:37 PM
no mods.

i took out the head to fix bent valves and reassembled the head...that's all.
I think you may have answered your own question. Sounds like the head gasket is leaking. Did you use a new head gasket? Did you follow the recommended torquing sequence for removing and replacing the head? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you have your answer.
Old 01-08-2007, 05:53 PM
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Looks like I should have read your last post. Good catch. I hope thats the end of it.
Old 01-09-2007, 01:19 PM
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Originally Posted by fperra,Jan 8 2007, 06:50 PM
I think you may have answered your own question. Sounds like the head gasket is leaking. Did you use a new head gasket? Did you follow the recommended torquing sequence for removing and replacing the head? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you have your answer.
i used a new head gasket.

but why would coolant leak from the head gasket? wouldn't it be oil leak?
Old 01-09-2007, 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by jyeung528,Jan 9 2007, 02:19 PM
i used a new head gasket.

but why would coolant leak from the head gasket? wouldn't it be oil leak?
The cylinder head needs to be cooled just as much as the block itself. There are a TON of coolant passages going to the cylinder head compared to oil lines.

When you blow a head gasket, normally it is because coolant some how is getting into your cylinders (all the white smoke) and being combusted.


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