coolant leak and idk where.

davig

Member
Jun 28, 2012
195
1
18
west jordan, utah
I have a coolant leak some where and i can't find it. There is no spots on the concrete. I changed my reservoir cap. I took it to a shop and had them test it for a head gasket and they told me it looked good. The dash tells me it is low on coolant like every 1.5-2 months and have to top it off(and it is low i put about 1/3 of a gal. Every top off.) I was thinking about getting a pressure tester from autozone and some die incase its leaking on top of the block and evaporating away before it drips or can see it, i can see it. Do you guys think of somewhere i should look or to try?
 

davig

Member
Jun 28, 2012
195
1
18
west jordan, utah
Oh and i for got to mention the reservoir still has pressure after like 2 days of sitting. And i was told thats a good thing because that points away from a head gasket also.
 

JoshH

Daggum farm truck
Staff member
Vendor/Sponsor
Feb 14, 2007
13,711
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113
Texas!!!
Oh and i for got to mention the reservoir still has pressure after like 2 days of sitting. And i was told thats a good thing because that points away from a head gasket also.

That’s a sure sign of bad head gaskets.
 

TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
Staff member
Apr 19, 2008
15,610
1,865
113
Mid Michigan
Before you do something rash, check the overflow tank cap and clean/replace it if needed. That might be all it is. But yeah, the guys are right -- it could very well be headgaskets.
Id also be wary of letting that shop work on my truck.
 

Kuzz

Its Me
Jun 18, 2017
52
0
0
Florida
Recently ran into the same problem here although im getting a low coolant light about every 3 days... local shop in gainesville pressure tested it and said it came back okay but i know there is a deeper lying problem so im gonna drive it 4 hours back home and take it to a reputable shop (PELA motorsports). I also noticed a bit of blow by but not enough to push the oil cap off when placed upsidedown
 

juddski88

Freedom Diesel
Jul 1, 2008
4,655
120
63
Chesterfield, Mass.
If you have pressure trapped in the cooling system after 24hrs of sitting, what in the world makes people think that a pressure test is going to tell them any new information:confused:

A pressure test is only meant to prove a pressure LEAK.
 

torqued2dmax

Member
Mar 26, 2017
646
1
18
Brookville, PA
Oh and i for got to mention the reservoir still has pressure after like 2 days of sitting. And i was told thats a good thing because that points away from a head gasket also.
Sometimes it is hard to admit when you hear things that may cost thousands , I know in the 8 years on this site you have heard many people talk about the hard rad hose a day or two as being a sure sign of a head gasket , most of us have been down that road ! If you consider it to be a good time to do some small upgrades , studs , fresh springs , valve job and water pump , you will be good for many years to come ! It makes it a little easier to justify , in my case anyway . Good Luck !!!
 
Jan 28, 2015
961
0
0
Ohio
Sometimes it is hard to admit when you hear things that may cost thousands , I know in the 8 years on this site you have heard many people talk about the hard rad hose a day or two as being a sure sign of a head gasket , most of us have been down that road ! If you consider it to be a good time to do some small upgrades , studs , fresh springs , valve job and water pump , you will be good for many years to come ! It makes it a little easier to justify , in my case anyway . Good Luck !!!

X2. Also if your mechanically inclined do them yourself. You can get quiet a few upgrades done while your in there with the money you save on labor.
 

turbovan

Too many toys!!!
Mar 4, 2018
145
20
18
Abbotsford, BC, Canada.
If its holding pressure, how will a pressure test find anything?? If its holding pressure after a few days, it honestly sounds like head gaskets.

Try this, relieve all the pressure when cold, put the cap back on, go for a drive around the block and if the top rad hose it rock hard, you have your answer.

As suggested, you can do other mods, but I would add putting the better drivers manifold on and a better down pipe.
 

Burn Down

Hotrodder
Sep 14, 2008
7,092
28
48
Boise Idaho
Mine only leaked at -30f in Alaska, I ran them for a year that way. When I pulled them the metal wrapped around the fire ring was starting to split on 2 cylinders, maybe 1/8”. I changed them in the spring when the weather was nicer. My point is they can be very slow to leak and may only do it under certain conditions. Makes pressure testing pointless unless they are completely gone, then you wouldn’t need to test anyway:rofl:
 

BlkMax

Member
Sep 1, 2008
743
4
18
Wasilla, AK
I have a coolant leak some where and i can't find it. The dash tells me it is low on coolant like every 1.5-2 months and have to top it off(and it is low i put about 1/3 of a gal. Every top off.)

Not to say you have the same problem I did, but this is EXACTLY the problem I had with Emma.

After driving with it for WAAAY too long because if denial, when I finally replaced the head gaskets I was able to keep the coolant inside the cooling system, and my radiator hoses were not rock hard the next morning.:roflmao::roflmao:
 

davig

Member
Jun 28, 2012
195
1
18
west jordan, utah
Ok. So when i am tore into this what should i do while i am in there? Goal is to have no more the 700hp. And the budget would be about 12k with a trans upgrade being part of that 12k
 

torqued2dmax

Member
Mar 26, 2017
646
1
18
Brookville, PA
If you talk to Mark and you are willing to settle on 600 to 625 with a turbo and tune your eng will be happier ! Then you may not need to delip your pistons and change rods if you do not drive in #5 dsp all the time ! Then just studs , springs , push rods if you want , valve job , new design water pump , turbo of Marks recommendation , tune , drivers side manifold , , t stats and hoses where needed , make sure your fan clutch is good , down pipe , I assume you have a lift pump , Mike Ls trany cooler !