My Jeep has been losing coolant slowly over a 2 to 3 week period. I bought a gallon of coolant that I have been using but recently had to use the last bit. I noticed that there must have been a slow leak at first, but then this morning I got a low coolant light again and when I went to check it, the entire resevoir tank was empty. I did not notice anything leaking underneath and all the hoses appear to be ok. I have noticed that the resevoir tank top has been coming off on its own, as each time I have had to replace the coolant, the top was already popped off. I checked the radiator and there was plenty of light green liquid in it. I'm wondering if there could be a problem with the water pump? Or could the resevoir have a leak? It was filled up halfway when i went to work this am at 5am, and just checked it at noon and can already tell its down about an inch. Im assuming it will be all gone by tomorrow am. Anyone have any suggestions on what the issue could be??
2007-01-21 04:49:42 · 4 answers · asked by jphegger 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Jeep
To start - NEVER as in (NEVER EVER) remove a radiator cap when the engine is warm.
Your engine is obviously getting hot and steam is opening the cap on the over flow bottle- so let's look for a solution.
The seals in water pumps have a habit of going bad. To check this possibility, and with engine OFF, but still (LUKE) warm from driving - look on the engine side of the pump's drive pulley.
There is a small hole in the housing that lets water leaking past the seals to drain out.
If you don't see any evidence of water leakage (after looking very carefully) - and you don't see any water leaking from a hose, then look at the heater core inside the vehicle.
Start by feeling for water in the carpet under the dash on the passenger's side. If you don't find anything, than remove the plastic shrouding around the heater under the dash. Heater cores have a bad habit of corroding through and leaking all over the place.
If it is dry (after exhausting all efforts to find water around the heater core) than the next place to look is for a failed head gasket.
The cheapest way to do this is to start the engine and look for a whitish exhaust "smoke" - or better yet have someone follow you down the street and every few minutes let up on the gas and coast - the car following you will be looking for a whitish exhaust "smoke" that will materialize every time you let up on the throttle.
If still nothing - remove the spark plugs (keeping GOOD TRACK of where each one came from) - and look at them one by one - to see if one is different than the rest.
If one is seen to be different in color and deposit - then I'd suspect a leaking gasket that lets water into that cylinder.
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2007-01-21 05:16:18 · answer #1 · answered by james 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of the things you have mentioned could be possible causes to the problem. I have experienced a leaking reservoir, and I have also experienced a leaking gasket around the water pump. Try parking on a "clean" piece of ground, and observe where the leak may be coming from. That could help you isolate the location. Good luck.
2007-01-21 04:54:03 · answer #2 · answered by Kerry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two things to do first. Install a new radiator cap designed for your radiator or coolant recovery bottle and have your cooling system "pressure Checked" at a repair shop, Dodge, Goodyear, Firestone or best of all at a radiator repair shop. If your system does not carry 15lbs. of cooling system pressure overnight there's a leak somewhere.
2007-01-21 05:05:00 · answer #3 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take it to a car dealer or take it where you can get a coolent fixed. I hope that helps.
2007-01-21 04:52:57 · answer #4 · answered by j13 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋