however I can't find where it is leaking from. When I stop and pop the bonnet although I know it is too hot I can't see any sign of steam or leaks, and yet the coolant level had dropped right down.
How can I work out where the leak is?
2007-07-20 09:20:38 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
the easiest way to check for leaks is with a pressure tester that is used for cooling system diagnosis. If you don't have that, then look for signs of white mineral deposits around the top of the radiator and at all hose connections.
it is very common for honda accords to leak at the top plastic radiator tank. the plastic tank is crimped over a rubber gasket to seal the plastic to the aluminum radiator. over time the rubber gasket starts to leak. You never see the leak because heat rises and the vaporized coolant exits through the leaking gasket as steam when you're driving the car down the road. You will however generally see the mineral tracks around the leak because the minerals condense rather quickly.
The other thing you want to check is the oil level in the vehicle. If the head gasket is ruptured it is possible for the coolant to go into the engine oil system and that's why you don't find any external leaks. The oil level will be overfull and generally look like chocolate milk if the coolant is leaking internally.
my guess is that the radiator top tank is leaking
hope that helps
2007-07-20 09:30:15 · answer #1 · answered by honda guy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How old is your Accord? How many miles on it? How well is it running? I would suggest you check the oil dipstick. Is the oil level on the dipstick any higher than usual? If nothing is leaking onto the ground or onto newspapers, you might suspect an internal coolant leak in the engine. Suppose the head gasket were to fail between cylinders? The coolant could then run into the next cylinder where it might run down past the rings or get burned in the combustion process. Suppose you had a head gasket leak into the exhaust valve passage, such that exhaust gases picked up the coolant and pumped it out the tail pipe.
Any or all of these problems suggest a failed head gasket.
2007-07-20 09:33:55 · answer #2 · answered by Phillip S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi
If the water pump seal goes then the coolant will only be lost whilst the engine is running. You would need to leave the engine running at a standstill for a good while before you would see the leaking coolant, or you could remove the top timing cover and see if you could see the water pump leak.
Another scenario is the head gasket.
Check the oil level and see if it has gone up any. This would indicate coolant leaking into the oil past the head gasket.
Cheers
Geordie
2007-07-21 08:39:27 · answer #3 · answered by Grizz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any white smoke? If so that'll be the head gasket.
If it's not that, then try parking on some slabs or some paper and leave it overnight. Hopefully then, you will be able to see where the coolent has been dripping from and help you find the leak.
Another one to check is whether it is leaking from a core plug at the back of the engine block. That will be more difficult to spot.
2007-07-21 13:37:28 · answer #4 · answered by gam3fr3aks 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, if it isn't leaking on the outside, it's leaking on the inside- probably a bad head gasket. Sometimes you can pull a spark plug out (when its cold!!!) and look into the cylinder for coolant. If you dont see any, crank the engine with all the spark plugs out and watch for the coolant blasting out of a spark plug hole. You can try a stop-leak product, sometimes they work. Good luck.
2007-07-20 09:27:29 · answer #5 · answered by Claira Voyant 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If there is no external leak,and the car runs hot, it is probably one of two things:
a. Water pump is so worn that the blades no longer circulate the water.
b. the thermostat is stuck in the closed position.
2007-07-20 09:32:19 · answer #6 · answered by boycat99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be a cracked head gasket, check your oil if it has some milky color to it that is one sign of the problem, does your exhaust blow out white smoke even after it has warmed up? another sign. Another thing is it could be your thermostat is broke and when the car over heats it spills out, and that is why you are low.
2007-07-20 09:32:40 · answer #7 · answered by Pengy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like the head gasket is gone, they sell a tool to pressurize your tank and coolant and will tell you if the head gasket is bad
2007-07-20 09:39:33 · answer #8 · answered by rich2481 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check the thermostat, have the cooling system checked for leaks or it might be a clogged radiator or posssibly a bad water pump
2016-05-18 21:06:52 · answer #9 · answered by cheryll 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont know
but you better get it fix fast before your head gasket blows and trust me thats a pain in the @ss
2007-07-20 09:26:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋