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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: elitedave on 08 January 2012, 19:19:11

Title: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: elitedave on 08 January 2012, 19:19:11
1999 3l elite

done the the hbv already found small drible from bottom radiator hose replased header tank and cap

so fixed most lol and , not loseing very much coolent just a top up every few weeks but its buging me that i cant completly plug this one

can find anymore  leaks no where

but it must be driberling somewhere  any idears guys.

Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: RobG on 08 January 2012, 19:20:55
Add some bright yellow food colouring to the coolant
Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: RobseyMV6 on 08 January 2012, 19:25:57
1999 3l elite

done the the hbv already found small drible from bottom radiator hose replased header tank and cap

so fixed most lol and , not loseing very much coolent just a top up every few weeks but its buging me that i cant completly plug this one

can find anymore  leaks no where

but it must be driberling somewhere  any idears guys.

Oil cooler plate or head gasket on the corner of engine, coil pack side normally, common problem,, just done my mate 3.0 and few in past like this
Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: omega3000 on 08 January 2012, 19:59:56
Quote
common problem
Really , first ive geard of that  :o
Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: RobseyMV6 on 08 January 2012, 20:35:05
Due to bad service and leaving coolant to long, eats away at gasket and leaks.
Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: elitedave on 08 January 2012, 20:39:29
Quote
common problem
Really , first ive geard of that  :o

aint there done oil cooler and the week flushing alreddy and was is still dry there.

bloody thing neaver had coolent in long enoutgh to need changing lol

but ill try some food dye
Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: omega3000 on 08 January 2012, 20:44:29
Due to bad service and leaving coolant to long, eats away at gasket and leaks.
Heard of cooler failures but not head gasket failures but as you say lack of servicing and incorrect or no coolant is going to cause something to give and end in  :'( :'( :'(

 :y
Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 08 January 2012, 20:50:58
Never tried the dye idea but sounds a good one.

I would suggest putting the coolant system under some pressure, the leak should then show itself, just a matter of tracing it  :y
Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: elitedave on 08 January 2012, 21:06:18
just saw some uv dye stuff on ebay that may make less of a mess in engine bay.

yes just saw presurising with a compresser on here may try that
Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: zirk on 08 January 2012, 21:10:41
Never tried the dye idea but sounds a good one.

I would suggest putting the coolant system under some pressure, the leak should then show itself, just a matter of tracing it  :y

Yep, thats what I would do, modify a spare header tank cap with a tyre valve and put it under presure when about 60 degrees, no more than 10 psi though and see where its dribling.

Chris.
Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: Entwood on 08 January 2012, 21:27:46
Bright Yellow food colouring (tartrazine) trick works well, I've used it on many cars in the past. Most supermarkets sell it in the baking section as it is often used for colouring icing.

Trouble with leaks is the water travels along edges before dripping, and can often drip a long way from the real leak. The yellow dye enables this travelling water to be seen easily, and if used in conjunction with the pressure trick I believe it offers a fast and accurate way of finding leaks ..  :)
Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 09 January 2012, 09:52:35
A few key areas to check

Cooler plate to block (sounds like its been done)
Stat to block (seen a few weap here)
Block to stainless coolant pipe at rear of block (seen this once)
Rear of passenger head (more common it would appear on post 97.5 model year 3.0's when they messed with the coolant passages).
Title: Re: tracking down that last coolent drible
Post by: elitedave on 09 January 2012, 11:12:27
thanks mark ill have a look at it when im back.

its not that its very bad in fact it hardly loseing any at least not enoutgh to worry about, but it just been buging me for ages.