97 Corolla DX Coolant disappearing...

[KaMLuNg]

last week i filled in the coolant reserve tank because it was low.. today i get gas and check the engine, the coolant reserve tank is low again... i checked to see if there was any burning of coolant.. the exhaust is clear and no smell of coolant... i check around for leaks and don't see anything... i just did a flush and t-stat change about a year ago maybe 30k miles...

any suggestions??? maybe the mix has broken down already and i need to do another flush???

[94_Rolla_Guy]

well it sounds like your pretty much on track.. coolant can only go 3 places.

1. External leak (out of the engine)

2. Internal leak (into the oil)

3. Burning off

take a closer look its probably an external leak somewhere! could be leaking where the water pump goes to the block (hidden behind the timing cover) if no where else

[PeonHonda]

I think coolant can only go 2 places, External Leak and Interneal Leak. Oil burns off.

[REN69]

dude, best thing to do is DO NOT PUT THE COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR! put it STRAIGHT into the rad. Do it this way, wait until the car is really cold, take off the rad cap and fill it right up. Then start the car with the cap OFF so the coolant runs thru the motor and fills up the rest of the cooling system, then put some more coolant into the rad until it fills back up or it starts to raise, then put the cap back on. The rad will keep taking the coolant as it circulates it in the system, don't worry about overfilling, if it overfills the fluid will go back into the reservoir bottle, which is what its supposed to do in the first place.

Hope this helps.

[retiredat44]

it might be seeping from the inside top of core where the core meets the tank. Mine wa sleaking there slowly, from corrosion and old age. On eBay I picked up a brand new one for $90.00 shipped. easy to install.

[KaMLuNg]

i found a hole at the core of the radiator.. but it doesn't seem to be leaking at all... i went to autozone today to get the cap test.. 13lbs so it looks good... i washed off the radiator with my hose and it is clean and dry.. i will keep my eye open on the hole.. the radiator is starting to flake around that area and corrode and rust...

i opened the cap and it is to the brim.. i started the car and the coolant started to overflow without any bubbles.. so there shouldn't be any air pockets in the system... it is probably a super small leak when my wife is on the highway and the engine temps get up there and it may be leaking out somewhere at the bottom... i looked around the water pump and it looks dry...

i will buy some of that radiator patch tomm and put it in.. see if that helps.. if not i will prob replace the radiator, since it is corroding and flaking around the core anyways... any other suggestions guys or do i look on track???

[UFOtofu27]

Change out the hoses when you do the radiator R&R. Be daff not to.

[rice]

mine did the same thing, if you're losing coolant from the reservior/overflow tank, then you should do what Ren said and fill the Radiator, i did the same mistake, and the car overheated and died on me on the highway, dont do the same mistake!!!

Mine was an external leak from the waterpump gasket, if you're not sure, take it to a shop and have them test it to see if it's internal or external leaking, they'll probably charge you $50-$70 dollars depending on some shops, make sure you ask them if they're gonna charge you. I took my car to a shop to see what was wrong with my brake bolts, they hoisted my car for 3 minutes, says that they'll have to call someone in to fix it if i want, but i said no, and charged me $70, im still kinda pissed off to this day, but some shops are like that, be careful and asked them what they're going to charge you just to look at your car, best wishes

[KaMLuNg]

radiator is starting to go... put the radiator leak fix in... and i saw coolant at the bottom of the radiator lip... anyone know where i can order an OEM Toyota Radiator???

[rice]

google it