coolant loss in '92

jcolegrove · 10-06-06, 07:01 AM

hi all,
have a 92 w/ 130k. well maintained and all is well other than losing about 1/2 bottle of coolant in 2-3 months. no other smells, symptoms- no water in oil, no mist in exhaust- nothing. any thoughts? t hanks.

jc

Tammy · 10-06-06, 07:10 AM

It is common for the heater hoses to leak as they age.

Has the coolant been changed every sixty thousand, as recommended?

jcolegrove · 10-06-06, 08:04 AM

yes, coolant has been fresh and changed.
that's the first i've heard of heater hoses on this car.... and i've been on these forums for years. is that common? or just a general situation?
thanks.

Och · 10-06-06, 08:07 AM

your water pump maybe leaking, dripping out the coolant and spraying it all over your timing belt. The easiest way to check, is to remove timing belt cover, and see if there's any coolant on the belt.

Tammy · 10-06-06, 08:26 AM

There are heater hoses on every vehicle with a heater.

They are needed as the engine rides on flexible mounts and the heater core is mounted solid. The engine mounts wear and the added movement of the engine may stress the hoses high on the firewall, furthest away from the mounts below the engine.

The heater core and radiator should be in good shape with the coolant changes. Hoses tend to disintegrate from the inside out as they age, weeping at the hose ends. This includes the lower radiator hose.

Do you detect any fluid leaking under the vehicle after it is parked?

jcolegrove · 10-06-06, 08:39 AM

yes, tammy

i know what heater hoses are...

just hadn't heard of them being prob. w/ this car..
thanks - i will look at belt and inspect underneath.

mobilyte · 10-06-06, 04:47 PM

check for dried residue around the coolant recovery tank. never noticed on mine until i flushed my coolant and used the red toyota coolant, residue was building up on top of the recovery tank near the coolant level sensor.

jcolegrove · 10-09-06, 07:31 AM

checked there this weekend-- nothing.
was under the car-- no signs from the water pump weep hole, no signs from hoses... i'm baffled....

Christian · 10-09-06, 02:20 PM

Hello,

I had the same problem with my dads 92 LS. It was the reservoir cap. The waterpump failed a little later after 460000km!

Chris

jcolegrove · 10-11-06, 06:51 AM

so the cap doesn't seal? there is no residue around my cap or sensor cap... i assume i would see dried deposits, right?

Tammy · 10-11-06, 09:37 AM

If there are no indication of external leaks, spark plug inspection and a compression leak down test of each cylinder may be the next tests to consider.

damon · 10-11-06, 10:37 AM

Hate to speculate, but my 2 sleeper suggestions would be the heater control valve & that o-ring & coolant line that run under the manifold.

91LS400vgb · 10-11-06, 02:25 PM

I once had a coolant leak from the "water seal plate," located on the bottom right side of the engine of my 91 LS400. It may be worth taking a look there. With patience, I was able to repair this myself by removing it, cleaning the mating surfaces with a plastic scraper, and applying black sealant, allowing it to cure for a day before refilling the cooling system. See the attachment for the location.

Christian · 10-11-06, 03:50 PM

Hello,

no wrong there was no residue around the cap or the sensor. There is a small hose which ends infront of the drivers front tire. This is where the water can leave the coolant reservoir. You can check if there is pressure on your cooling system by opening the cap when the car is hot, but be careful you might get burnt.

Chris