Coolant leak
#1
Coolant leak
Can you guys help me track down this leak? A bit of info about my car first: 2004, 80K miles, reman about 20K ago, Mazmart water pump and thermostat installed about 3 months ago.
I have a very slow leak that I only noticed from the smell coming into the cabin when my car was warmed up and at a stop and a bit of a smell in my garage after parking the car. After searching high and low for any coolant (there is none on the ground or under the car) I finally found a small puddle on top of the engine under the intake manifold. Below is a picture of where you can see the coolant puddled (there are actually two puddles there, but the larger one was impossible to get a light on and get the camera to capture it at the same time). Using Prestone coolant, which is orange. I've found no coolant on or around any hoses or connectors that I can see. Does anyone know where this leak could be coming from?
[IMG]
[/IMG]
I have a very slow leak that I only noticed from the smell coming into the cabin when my car was warmed up and at a stop and a bit of a smell in my garage after parking the car. After searching high and low for any coolant (there is none on the ground or under the car) I finally found a small puddle on top of the engine under the intake manifold. Below is a picture of where you can see the coolant puddled (there are actually two puddles there, but the larger one was impossible to get a light on and get the camera to capture it at the same time). Using Prestone coolant, which is orange. I've found no coolant on or around any hoses or connectors that I can see. Does anyone know where this leak could be coming from?
[IMG]
![](http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee35/Aipex8/leak.jpg)
#2
Grasshopper
iTrader: (1)
I think you'll need to tear it back apart and look for this yourself.
You didn't take the whole thermostat housing off... right?
You only removed the upper part of the housing?
Also in that area is where the ECT (engine coolant temp) sensor is located.
But like I said, its a guessing game until you get back down there and look.
Removing the UIM might also help you see more from the back-end.
You didn't take the whole thermostat housing off... right?
You only removed the upper part of the housing?
Also in that area is where the ECT (engine coolant temp) sensor is located.
But like I said, its a guessing game until you get back down there and look.
Removing the UIM might also help you see more from the back-end.
#3
Hermitage Holdout
I think you'll need to tear it back apart and look for this yourself.
You didn't take the whole thermostat housing off... right?
You only removed the upper part of the housing?
Also in that area is where the ECT (engine coolant temp) sensor is located.
But like I said, its a guessing game until you get back down there and look.
Removing the UIM might also help you see more from the back-end.
You didn't take the whole thermostat housing off... right?
You only removed the upper part of the housing?
Also in that area is where the ECT (engine coolant temp) sensor is located.
But like I said, its a guessing game until you get back down there and look.
Removing the UIM might also help you see more from the back-end.
#5
I think you'll need to tear it back apart and look for this yourself.
You didn't take the whole thermostat housing off... right?
You only removed the upper part of the housing?
Also in that area is where the ECT (engine coolant temp) sensor is located.
But like I said, its a guessing game until you get back down there and look.
Removing the UIM might also help you see more from the back-end.
You didn't take the whole thermostat housing off... right?
You only removed the upper part of the housing?
Also in that area is where the ECT (engine coolant temp) sensor is located.
But like I said, its a guessing game until you get back down there and look.
Removing the UIM might also help you see more from the back-end.
#8
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
The ECT sensor is the grey plug just to the right of your circles ![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
The only thing that goes through there with coolant in it is the throttle body coolant hose.....
If it is leaking from anything else there..... it is coming out between the housing and irons...and you will need a new motor to fix it
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
The only thing that goes through there with coolant in it is the throttle body coolant hose.....
If it is leaking from anything else there..... it is coming out between the housing and irons...and you will need a new motor to fix it
#9
The ECT sensor is the grey plug just to the right of your circles ![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
The only thing that goes through there with coolant in it is the throttle body coolant hose.....
If it is leaking from anything else there..... it is coming out between the housing and irons...and you will need a new motor to fix it
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
The only thing that goes through there with coolant in it is the throttle body coolant hose.....
If it is leaking from anything else there..... it is coming out between the housing and irons...and you will need a new motor to fix it
#21
So I cleaned the area and drove to work and back and around doing some errands at lunch and I wasn't getting the coolant smell coming through the vents when stopped at lights. Got home from work, popped the hood and there is no new coolant in that area. WTF? Did my car self heal? Anyway, I'll keep an eye on it and keep this thread updated.
#24
Well, this turned out to be the worst case senario and a reman was needed. The good news is that I tried a new dealership and they seem to have done an excellent job with the install (my first reman was such a huge headache because the dealership made so many mistakes, many of which ended up coming out of my pocket to fix). All was covered under warranty, although I lost my Mazmart water pump (I asked if they'd swap it, and they were fine with the fact that I had an aftermarket pump, but they had already taken pics of then engine and sent them to Mazda and didn't want to risk a fine). I'll pick up another next time I decide to do a coolant flush. Thanks dannobre and anyone else who chimed in with advice!
Last edited by Aipex8; 10-19-2010 at 03:52 PM.
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