Coolant in reservoir is always low?
#1
Coolant in reservoir is always low?
The coolant in the reservoir will be low and I'll fill it up halfway. Drive as usual for a week and check again and its back at low. I checked for any signs on my garage floor but don't see any. What I do see is when I get to work, I'll check under the engine and I'll see some kind of liquid (probably coolant) but in a tiny puddle. What other signs should I check for ? what could it be? Thanks in advance guys and its a 2006.
#3
Instructor
mine's always been low, I fill it ever few months with a little. I know it's not supposed to do it, and it's not leaking, haven't notice any signs of it burning off on the engine or internally. So I just kind of accept it unfortunately.
#6
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Necessary question.. are you checking the res when the car has been off for several hours?
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#8
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Then check the oil, your passenger side carpet, and your firewall. If it's leaking somewhere it'll be noticeable. Either your oil will be milky, your carpet will be damp or there'll be dried coolant all over your rear mount, brake & fuel lines.
#11
If you want to be sure your coolant system has no leaks, go to Autozone and borrow a coolant pressure tester. It is basically a pump with a psi gauge. You pressurize the system to what the psi reads on the radiator cap. If the needle on the gauge stays solid then you have no leaks, if the needle goes down however then you have a leak. While the needle is going down check for the leak.
Worse case is the head gasket is bad and the coolant is leaking back into the block. You can tell this by looking underneath the oil cap or shining a light into the fill whole. If you see a dirty milky build up then you know where your coolant has been going. This is usually not the case if it has been happening for while since you would probably have noticed your engine knocking. I know first hand since I blew a 5.7l this way and seen it a couple times when I worked at a shop. Every day for a couple months the coolant would be low,the engine started knocking, I went to drain the oil and it looked like chocolate milk.
Worse case is the head gasket is bad and the coolant is leaking back into the block. You can tell this by looking underneath the oil cap or shining a light into the fill whole. If you see a dirty milky build up then you know where your coolant has been going. This is usually not the case if it has been happening for while since you would probably have noticed your engine knocking. I know first hand since I blew a 5.7l this way and seen it a couple times when I worked at a shop. Every day for a couple months the coolant would be low,the engine started knocking, I went to drain the oil and it looked like chocolate milk.
Last edited by xmrgoodcatx; 01-12-2010 at 01:11 PM.
#13
Team Owner
As Mojofo said, check when dead cold like first thing in the morning or when hot as soon as you shut it off but make it consistant. If can vary by 2" from cold to hot.
#15
so....i have spent the last week every morning when the engine is dead cold, and as soon as i got home everyday. Have checked my oil, carpet, and everything mentioned on here. BUT i did find a problem. the reservoir is made of plastic and the cap in which covers up the hole where you pour the coolant in has cracked on top. it still tightens but there is a tiny crack in the cap. but how does it explain why im losing coolant ? its on the very top of the reservoir so its not leaking out,is it?
#16
Team Owner
There's some evaporation with coolant. It's not as much as straight water but a crack could be enough to lose a few ounces of hot water in a week.
#17
AM To WDP In My Garage
iTrader: (40)
If you want to be sure your coolant system has no leaks, go to Autozone and borrow a coolant pressure tester. It is basically a pump with a psi gauge. You pressurize the system to what the psi reads on the radiator cap. If the needle on the gauge stays solid then you have no leaks, if the needle goes down however then you have a leak. While the needle is going down check for the leak.
Worse case is the head gasket is bad and the coolant is leaking back into the block. You can tell this by looking underneath the oil cap or shining a light into the fill whole. If you see a dirty milky build up then you know where your coolant has been going. This is usually not the case if it has been happening for while since you would probably have noticed your engine knocking. I know first hand since I blew a 5.7l this way and seen it a couple times when I worked at a shop. Every day for a couple months the coolant would be low,the engine started knocking, I went to drain the oil and it looked like chocolate milk.
Worse case is the head gasket is bad and the coolant is leaking back into the block. You can tell this by looking underneath the oil cap or shining a light into the fill whole. If you see a dirty milky build up then you know where your coolant has been going. This is usually not the case if it has been happening for while since you would probably have noticed your engine knocking. I know first hand since I blew a 5.7l this way and seen it a couple times when I worked at a shop. Every day for a couple months the coolant would be low,the engine started knocking, I went to drain the oil and it looked like chocolate milk.
Any suggestions on how to tell the difference on the knocking?
#18
BUT i did find a problem. the reservoir is made of plastic and the cap in which covers up the hole where you pour the coolant in has cracked on top. it still tightens but there is a tiny crack in the cap. but how does it explain why im losing coolant ? its on the very top of the reservoir so its not leaking out,is it?
Anyone have the part number for this? or would some super glue suffice?
#19
18psi
iTrader: (7)
http://www.hondapartsunlimited.com/i...RESERVE%20TANK
part #2
002 19102-PM5-A00 CAP, RESERVE TANK 2004 TL 1.45 1.09
you could just goto a junkyard and find one off any honda/acura model. they are almost all exactly the same. my original cracked and im using a cap from a honda odyssey
part #2
002 19102-PM5-A00 CAP, RESERVE TANK 2004 TL 1.45 1.09
you could just goto a junkyard and find one off any honda/acura model. they are almost all exactly the same. my original cracked and im using a cap from a honda odyssey
#21
Was having this issue in my 08 and sure enough it was a cracked reservoir cap. Replaced with a new one and now the coolant stays at a consistent level
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