Performance & Maintenance Engine, forced induction, intakes, exhausts, torque converters, transmissions, etc.

need help Slow coolant leak

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-06-11, 10:19 AM
  #1  
unknown159
Pole Position
Thread Starter
 
unknown159's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: fl
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default need help Slow coolant leak

my car is a 92 sc400 i have been driving it for 8 months now and it gives no problems exept it keeps loosing coolant but not fast atleast once a month i have fill it with coolant or it starts to over heat i suspected a headgasket wich it probably is there is no loss in perfomance the car is a beast i barely tap the gas and i spin tires ive done numerous top speed runs on the highway and it still performs great after....so i just need your oppinon to what its is so here are some photos with what looks like coolant and the water inlet housing has this weird brown stiff on top..
thanks
Attached Thumbnails need help Slow coolant leak-img00413-20111006-1216.jpg   need help Slow coolant leak-img00414-20111006-1216.jpg   need help Slow coolant leak-img00417-20111006-1217.jpg   need help Slow coolant leak-img00416-20111006-1217.jpg  

Last edited by unknown159; 10-06-11 at 10:27 AM.
Old 10-06-11, 10:45 AM
  #2  
blueboost6
Rookie
iTrader: (4)
 
blueboost6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: alabama
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Have you pressure tested the system yet.
Old 10-06-11, 10:54 AM
  #3  
neurocity
Neu`roc´i`ty
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (17)
 
neurocity's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 8,706
Received 76 Likes on 39 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by unknown159
my car is a 92 sc400 i have been driving it for 8 months now and it gives no problems exept it keeps loosing coolant but not fast atleast once a month i have fill it with coolant or it starts to over heat i suspected a headgasket....
Is there a foamy film in your oil cap? I ask be cause someone here years ago had the same problem, same symptoms. Thinking it wasn't a Gasket...later finding out it was.

Please be more descriptive with your thread titles. Need help is kinda general.
Old 10-06-11, 11:33 AM
  #4  
unknown159
Pole Position
Thread Starter
 
unknown159's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: fl
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by blueboost6
Have you pressure tested the system yet.
no i was going to buy a kit from auto-zone just wanted to make sure before i spend 70 bucks on the kit
Old 10-06-11, 11:36 AM
  #5  
unknown159
Pole Position
Thread Starter
 
unknown159's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: fl
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by neurocity
Is there a foamy film in your oil cap? I ask be cause someone here years ago had the same problem, same symptoms. Thinking it wasn't a Gasket...later finding out it was.

Please be more descriptive with your thread titles. Need help is kinda general.
ya my bad i tried to change the title once i posted but didn't know how
and no foamy film but i am 99% sure its head gasket just gonna swap the motor for a 1jz...
thanks for the advice..
Old 10-06-11, 01:42 PM
  #6  
mak89
Pole Position
iTrader: (6)
 
mak89's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: FL
Posts: 328
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by unknown159
no i was going to buy a kit from auto-zone just wanted to make sure before i spend 70 bucks on the kit
Look around more, I got mine for 15-20 at auto discount, and it reads properly
Old 10-06-11, 04:18 PM
  #7  
StiCk3
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (5)
 
StiCk3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: IN
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

from the pics you've shown and your description of performance, it doesn't look or sound like a bad head gasket. In fact you might have already found the leak source. That hose clamp in the backround looks like its crushing the hose and could be the cause of your leak. If it's not that it has to be coming from somewhere up top on the engine. Don't waste your time on the pressure tester yet!
Old 10-06-11, 04:35 PM
  #8  
blueboost6
Rookie
iTrader: (4)
 
blueboost6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: alabama
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yep don't waste your time on a pressure tester, just waste your time on a leak that it will make obvious.
Old 10-06-11, 05:08 PM
  #9  
unknown159
Pole Position
Thread Starter
 
unknown159's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: fl
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by StiCk3
from the pics you've shown and your description of performance, it doesn't look or sound like a bad head gasket. In fact you might have already found the leak source. That hose clamp in the backround looks like its crushing the hose and could be the cause of your leak. If it's not that it has to be coming from somewhere up top on the engine. Don't waste your time on the pressure tester yet!
thanks alot for the good advice....most of the hoses are old so ill inspect them and change if Necessary ... maybe go steel braided..... if push comes to shove i called my mechanic he told he would pressure test it for free...
Old 10-06-11, 07:44 PM
  #10  
vangb2
Pole Position
iTrader: (2)
 
vangb2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: MN
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Equipment rentals are free at Autozone and Oreilly. You will have to leave a deposit to ensure the return of equipment.

Obviously, if coolant is low it will over heat no matter what.

Do a dye check with black light to make sure it's not leaking anywhere you don't suspect.

But, if you going to swap a 1jz then it doesn't matter anymore.
Old 10-06-11, 08:23 PM
  #11  
unknown159
Pole Position
Thread Starter
 
unknown159's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: fl
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by vangb2
Equipment rentals are free at Autozone and Oreilly. You will have to leave a deposit to ensure the return of equipment.

Obviously, if coolant is low it will over heat no matter what.

Do a dye check with black light to make sure it's not leaking anywhere you don't suspect.

But, if you going to swap a 1jz then it doesn't matter anymore.
i am only gonna go 1jz if its gasket but i am getting it tested in the morning and i will make my decision then...
thanks again everyone
Old 10-06-11, 08:49 PM
  #12  
blueboost6
Rookie
iTrader: (4)
 
blueboost6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: alabama
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

_I just did a 1j and love it even with a 72mm turbo lag is over rated. At 5400 rpms it is a whole different world. The only thing limiting me is 440cc injectors. If you do the 1j swap you won't regret it. Just make sure to use the 341 tt transmission with the 340 valve body. The 341 tt trans will handle about 450whp if kept cool.
Old 02-06-12, 07:59 PM
  #13  
WadeLovell
Lead Lap
iTrader: (5)
 
WadeLovell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CA
Posts: 580
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

I wish I could fix mine that way but I am going to have to find the leak! I thought it was a lot of things and replaced them. The dye test, however, shows pooling by the driver's side engin mount. It looked like the lower coolant temperature sensor (single wire) was leaking some but not enough to explain the drip down the side of the engine and pooling by the driver's side motor mount. I replaced it anyway. I am searching the Forums for "coolant loss" and would love to hear anyone's suggestions.

It may or may not be related but the check engine light is coming on. It takes about 10 miles of city and 40 miles of highway driving to trip it. Actually, 40 miles is the limit of what I have driven before getting off the highway so it might go longer.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Cyrus701
LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000)
5
11-28-18 10:35 AM
07LexRX350
RX - 2nd Gen (2004-2009)
10
08-22-18 06:07 AM
strikeraj
IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013)
17
10-13-16 05:09 PM
LexusLoyal
RX - 2nd Gen (2004-2009)
8
10-30-11 08:47 PM
satiger
ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006)
9
02-22-07 10:05 PM



Quick Reply: need help Slow coolant leak



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:13 AM.