WTF is going on! Flamin' Diesel

[cherokee]

Can somebody help!

Have already been through a diesel motor, have had radiator services, hoses all be checked / tightened, been to radiator place and had pressure tester plugged into it, and yet I'm still losing coolant with no idea where!

No signs of coolant on driveway, so only seems to be losing it while in motion - and particularly on longer trips - 3 hr return type stuff.

Anything I can look for to rule out head / gasket damage again!

[mountainman]

Check the little tube that runs down from the underside of your water pump. If there are tell tale signs of coolant it means the internal seal on the pump is carked it. The tube is the vent for fluid that has leaked past the seal.

One check to do is the oil on the dip stick, any signs of coolant or emolsion?

[cherokee]

thanks mountainman....

will check that .... any other ideas

[carvesdodo]

Hey Cherokee,

As well as those other inspections - take it for a run, get it up to operating temp - park it and leave running - have a good look at all connector hoses, heater hoses, radiator etc., even the overflow bottle.

Presume you replaced everything when you rebuilt, but could be a split or crack thats not evident unless under pressure.

Had a bottom hose and clamp the other month that expanded under pressure, whilst driving, just enough to let coolant out. Leaked coolant evaporated and couldn't tell where the problem was.

[cherokee]

thanks carves will try that....

my concern, although the thing hasn't overheated, is damage to the head gasket / head....I've been there once and know how soft the flamin' things are.

I keep a bottle of coolant in the truck now, and despite checking it only 2 days ago, as soon as the coolant light came on, i hit the anchors, headed for the dirt and topped 'er up.

I'm kinda hoping there's no real damage to the thing.....by checking for coolant in the oil, I should be able to tell right? I only ask, coz I went through the same motions last time this happened, with no sign of water/coolant in the oil!

[cherokee]

might have to go swear at it and tell it i'm looking at a patrol or a landcruiser tomorrow - shock tactics might work.....

[carvesdodo]

Originally Posted by cherokee

thanks carves will try that....

my concern, although the thing hasn't overheated, is damage to the head gasket / head....I've been there once and know how soft the flamin' things are.

How long ago did you rebuild it and who did the work ??....Also did you do for the EGR or is it still there ? From what I've read - best thing you can do is dump it or fit a blocking plate.

I keep a bottle of coolant in the truck now, and despite checking it only 2 days ago, as soon as the coolant light came on, i hit the anchors, headed for the dirt and topped 'er up.

How often does it need a top up ??

I'm kinda hoping there's no real damage to the thing.....by checking for coolant in the oil, I should be able to tell right? I only ask, coz I went through the same motions last time this happened, with no sign of water/coolant in the oil!

Is there any change in the oil level as shown by the dipstick ? I'm a bit dubious about expecting to see coolant / water on the dipstick as it will run off the stick into the engine as you pull the stick out, Still, you might be lucky and see it - if its there.

Better method is to do an oil change - Anything thats not supposed to be there will be floating on top in whatever you use to catch the oil.

Hope you get this sorted.