Slow Coolant Leak
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Rock Crawling
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 303
Likes: 66
Slow Coolant Leak
Hey folks,
My 99 D2 is slowly losing coolant (i.e. about a quart every couple hundred miles). I'm attempting to figure out a diagnosis, but there's very few symptoms; here's what I've got so far:
White smoke from the exhaust on an intermittent basis; there's about a 5 second interval on startup before it starts smoking, and it will randomly stop when the engine is on, but at this point there is a small amount of smoke most of the time. Does smell like coolant.
No overheating, but it's 25 degrees out, so who knows if that will continue.
No visible coolant in the oil; have not done a chemical analysis.
No foam in the coolant, and the cooling system does not appear to be being pressurized.
No visible external leaks (will use a UV dye next).
Soft tic on startup that fades as the engine heats up.
No misfires (or any code, for that matter).
No loss of power.
I've yet to summon the courage to stand outside long enough to pull the plugs and do a pressure test, but that's next on my list. Is there anything else to do other than tear the heads off? Any help is appreciated.
My 99 D2 is slowly losing coolant (i.e. about a quart every couple hundred miles). I'm attempting to figure out a diagnosis, but there's very few symptoms; here's what I've got so far:
White smoke from the exhaust on an intermittent basis; there's about a 5 second interval on startup before it starts smoking, and it will randomly stop when the engine is on, but at this point there is a small amount of smoke most of the time. Does smell like coolant.
No overheating, but it's 25 degrees out, so who knows if that will continue.
No visible coolant in the oil; have not done a chemical analysis.
No foam in the coolant, and the cooling system does not appear to be being pressurized.
No visible external leaks (will use a UV dye next).
Soft tic on startup that fades as the engine heats up.
No misfires (or any code, for that matter).
No loss of power.
I've yet to summon the courage to stand outside long enough to pull the plugs and do a pressure test, but that's next on my list. Is there anything else to do other than tear the heads off? Any help is appreciated.
At 25F it’s gonna smoke a lot regardless due to moisture in the exhaust system. Normally if you’re leaking coolant into a cylinder it will be steam cleaned. If you can get a bore scope you can inspect inside the cylinder. Also if you have coolant getting into a cylinder start it, let it warm up to temp, shut it off, give it say 15-25min then restart it. If it runs rough = coolant in a cylinder.
Last edited by Best4x4; Mar 5, 2019 at 08:18 AM.
Park in the same spot every day, look at the ground. Antifreeze does not evaporate. If it is leaking you should see it. If it is not leaking it is likely a hg leak. Mine was drinking it slow, I slowed it down by loosening the tank cap one turn. Blew the HG about 7 months later. Pressure test of the cooling system is a good idea.
Mudding
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 179
Likes: 22
From: Hickory Flat , Ga
Pull the plugs one at a time.....I think you are gonna find one or two steam cleaned ones indicating head gasket failure. I hope Im wrong but smelling coolant in the exhaust is a sure sign of a blown gasket.
Mudding
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 179
Likes: 22
From: Hickory Flat , Ga
Yeah....the head gaskets are totally doable as long as you have the correct tools and the parts will not cost you too much. It is time consuming but if you have a backup car you can take your time with it. While you are in there you may want to consider relocating the coil pack or at least replace your plug wires.
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