Could this be my coolant leak?

[dreamer2355]

Did you put a cooling pressure tester on your cooling system when trying to locate the leak?_x000D_
_x000D_
Where i work, if we are trying to isolate a leak on a ‘dirty’ engine, we usually use a degreaser, wash it clean then start investigating.

Topic

[hbvx]

@EricTheCarGuy and everyone else, I finally got confirmation with a cooling system leakdown test + spark plugs removed to confirm the head gasket ‘finally’ showed confirmed signs of ingestion visually. Before, the cooling system would hold pressure and I suppose no one checked on ingestion via the plug removal method.

I did have to use a shop to get this work done, but I learned a lot in this process to be able to grow at doing more DIY work.

I’ll be doing follow-up UOA to confirm no more coolant ingestion. That was my first clue, after all. At least, as far as ‘where is my coolant going’.

The thermostat replacement was done and the external leaks seem to be done. It’s kind of funny seeing a clean re-surfaced head with new intake/exhaust gaskets sitting on such a dirty block.

banana:

Thanks again!

PS: The shop that did the work raised the engine slightly when putting things back together. Does where the engine sit in the bay have to be precise? I noticed the idle resonance has changed(since it still occasionally will have the low ‘shudder-like’ idle at full temp.)

[hbvx]

I wanted to add I didn’t realize this thread was mistakenly given to dreamer after the old forum swapped to the new one. My OP is on page 2 and is broken as are some of the replies in this thread.

Long-story short, part of an external coolant leak in this thread was related to the thermostat housing having RTV sealant; which was started to develop a slow leak. This was fixed with a new OE thermostat + gasket(no RTV).

Since, I have gotten the actual head-gasket job done as ‘finally’ it could be confirmed to be leaking down from a coolant pressure test(I suppose others were not done ‘over night’?) and so I’ll still be doing followup UOAs/observing coolant levels.

Thanks again all!

[hbvx]

I wanted to add I didn’t realize this thread was mistakenly given to dreamer after the old forum swapped to the new one. My OP is on page 2 and is broken as are some of the replies in this thread.

Long-story short, part of an external coolant leak in this thread was related to the thermostat housing having RTV sealant; which was started to develop a slow leak. This was fixed with a new OE thermostat + gasket(no RTV).

Since, I have gotten the actual head-gasket job done as ‘finally’ it could be confirmed to be leaking down from a coolant pressure test(I suppose others were not done ‘over night’?) and so I’ll still be doing followup UOAs/observing coolant levels.

Thanks again all!

[Author]

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