Forum Replies Created
-
Replies
-
Wanted to update. Hopefully this is the only thing they find – they already did a compression test and block test (dye) and both were fine – the upper radiator hose apparently has a small leak that sealed itself up when the hose was warm, but allowed air in as it cooled.
Kudos to Evil-i …. I wish I’d not been pressed for time as this probably would be an easy DIY fix; easier than some of the rest of the stuff I already did myself. Live and learn; and indeed I learned a lot! Hopefully this thread helps others as I don’t recall seeing this source of leaks as being listed on the “overheat troubleshoot” page. Of course I’m sure all the possibilities of leaks are too numerous to list them all.
Unless they find something else, I won’t have further updates. So just wanted to thank everyone who read, and especially the two people who provided suggestions.
-Julia (who has a new appreciation for all things related to engine cooling)
[quote=”QuirkyJules” post=189413]…I thought I could hear a “blip blip blip” like air bubbles through liquid….[/quote]
I know that’s in conflict with my original post that specified no visual or aural sign of leak. I *think* that there was no sound when I applied 15 psi from the pressure tester, but of course I may have missed it. The bubble sound seemed to be during engine cooling immediately after shutting it off. The rate of “blip” was maybe one per second – quite slow. And now this is like a splinter in my brain!
Great points and much less painful than a bad HG. I will check it out when I can, but I ended up dropping the car off with a professional this morning (I am scheduled to drive about 2000 miles starting Friday so I woke up this morning and felt like my timeline warrants recruiting some professional help).
I noticed one other thing after my original post last night. Immediately after driving around, when I opened the hood, I thought I could hear a “blip blip blip” like air bubbles through liquid (the sound of an airlock on a carboy for anyone who homebrews). Would that point to anywhere more specific or rule anything in/out? Without any white smoke or misfires, and considering the oil on the dipstick looks great, I’m having a hard time putting head gasket on the top of the list yet…but since I didn’t have a compression tester, I’ve not done the other checks suggested by NikolaTesla so I know there are things I could be looking into still to support or refute that possibility and I don’t want to seem like I’m ignoring advice already given….just trying to balance my sense of urgency and limitations.
Also for what it’s worth, I normally apply my diagnostic skills to cats and dogs, so I’m way out of my element in terms of mechanical knowledge/experience, but I thoroughly enjoy the approach of diagnosis as long as I’m not potentially making something worse.
[quote=”NikolaTesla” post=189400]Read through your whole post.
[/quote]This alone is worth thanking you for…I know it was not brief.
Head gasket certainly isn’t the issue I’d be hoping for, but your comments help prepare me for that potential outcome. In particular, we are rapidly approaching a realm where I think I’d be over my head, not to mention exceeding the limits of my marginally-equipped toolbox. I will check back in once I have something more to add…. But thanks very much for taking the time to read and comment.