stumped on where coolent is going???

[BigRAWesty]

Ok guys this one has me stumped a little.
I'm using coolent. Around 1 to 1 1/2 liters per 5000k.
So I can see no signs of leaks. It runs fine, no white smoke etc.
And to really throw you off it drains the over flow first dry, and there are no bubbles present in the radiator when running.
I have a new radiator cap on it also.

So experts. What am I looking for?? Its got me stumped.

[mudnut]

Had the same problem when I first got the Old Trol, and it turned out to be a couple of weeping core to tank joins where the the radiator had been flexing. The heat was evaporating the water and leaving a very fine white substance, which was hard to see.

[threedogs]

I have a similar problem in I lose 1 litre of fluid.
car runs fine even on hot days. so Ill look for signs of a leak somewhere
cant smell coolant or anything.

[mudnut]

Years ago on an old Fairmont, I had a couple of radiator hoses that developed pin holes along most of their length. (Cheap after market ones, can't remember the brand).

[threedogs]

I might put some food dye in and see if I can see the leak that way,
I would say its harmless to the system

[mudnut]

I wouldn't, in case it does react with something.

[the evil twin]

I'm no expert on cooling systems but it can only be going one of two places and that is a pretty big loss when you know it isn't blowing it over.

It can only be leaking to atmosphere (not so bad, just gotta find it) or out the exhaust (oh shit).

If it is leaking out and evaporating it leaves a noticeable whitish residue as Mudnut says.
I wouldn't use food dye 'cause if you haven't spotted the coolant you prob won't see the dye anyway
You can rule out heater core etc as that much coolant leaking into the cabin you would notice by now.

If it is going out the exhaust then there must be a gasket issue or hairline crack opening up somewhere

[BigRAWesty]

I guess the volume being loss wouldn't be showing as white smoke would it.
I'm confident the hoses are fine as they are only 15 thou old.
And yea heater core was out at the same time when I did the big strip down. Didn't notice any leaks there.

So would a compression test show any leaks in head gasket??

[lhurley]

I guess the volume being loss wouldn't be showing as white smoke would it.
I'm confident the hoses are fine as they are only 15 thou old.
And yea heater core was out at the same time when I did the big strip down. Didn't notice any leaks there.

So would a compression test show any leaks in head gasket??

Afaik a compression test would just show that the compression was down if it was a big enough leak and not opening up once warm. A leak down test would help. Its kind of a tricky thing to find really

[BigRAWesty]

Afaik a compression test would just show that the compression was down if it was a big enough leak and not opening up once warm. A leak down test would help. Its kind of a tricky thing to find really

Ok. So I guess atm it's a wait for further development is it??