2004 V8 - Coolant issue???

[Powder_Hound]

Hey there gang. I'm loosing coolant, but there is no visable leak. There is pink residue over Timing Chain cover and some of the hoses up top; presumably from fan spraying pink coolant around.

Added 1q to bring overflow back to full (engine was hot so didn't add any directly to rad) on Sunday. I checked today, Wednesday (3 days later) and overflow was empty again and less than 50 miles driven. I added 2 more quarts today (total of 3 quarts now) directly to radiator and filled up overflow. I've seen head gasket discussed for V6's but not much about coolant leaks on V8's.

Again, upon visual inspection there are no leaks and no puddles on floor. Also, my engine is NOT running hot.

Any thoughts or ideas from you T4R folks?
Thanks!

 

[V8Man]

Radiator

If the pink stuff is spraying all over, from the fan, I would be looking at the radiator. Specifically the place where the plastic tanks attach to the core.

 

[Powder_Hound]

Radiator

If the pink stuff is spraying all over, from the fan, I would be looking at the radiator. Specifically the place where the plastic tanks attach to the core.

Thanks for suggestion....Hmmmm....nothing obvious where plastic overflow tank hose is attatched or where overflow hose is attached to top of radiator. However, the fluid level is about 1" lower in overflow tank with no obvious leaks. I did let T4r idle to temp and I drove it for about 2 miles after filling up with the 2 additional quarts. I'm suspecting as engine cooled it siphoned from overflow???? I had it topped off when cold.

Guess I'll recheck overflow level in the am...

 

[Powder_Hound]

Thought I'd add a few images because:


:worthless:

I'm thinking leak might be coming from here where the highest concentration of pink residue lies. Not sure, but H20 pump gasket??? Or???

 

[blackoutt]

Bottom right pic looks like it's where your rad hose attaches to the thermostat housing, or the thermostat housing to water pump. That one can be tricky with form in place gasket, sometimes they sell a paper gasket for it to but it sucks. It's kind of hard to tell with coolant everywhere, you might want to clean it all up and try looking in a shorter amount of time or look for wet coolant only at that leak rate, not the dried residue.

 

[Powder_Hound]

Cleaned, topped overflow back to full when engine was cold, and now to wait and inspect. I have a 100 mile trip planned for Saturday, but won't be able to update for a week (off the grid).

 

[ben550]

Mine was leaking from the water pump seal when I bought it. I noticed the coolant was low, topped it off, next day back low...

I was under the truck looking and noticed the leak. Fixed with a timing belt job.

It was not a noticeable leak, nothing on the ground, only thing to reveal leak was the depleting reservoir tank.

 

[Powder_Hound]

Shortly after my timing belt / H20 pump job...done by Toyota...is when I first noticed the leak. Still on oil change done at same time. If it continues to leak, looks like I might be asking Toyota to "fix" if truly their blunder...my wallet and time are hoping so...

 

[paraordnance]

I had exactly same problem for years... my coolant was diapering and I could not see any of it! It drove me nuts. When I did my timing belt I realized that my water pump gasket was leaking, there is a little cavity in the block where coolant was pooling and evaporating. I had full TB kit with water pump and gasket, after install problem solved.

 

[ben550]

Shortly after my timing belt / H20 pump job...done by Toyota...is when I first noticed the leak. Still on oil change done at same time. If it continues to leak, looks like I might be asking Toyota to "fix" if truly their blunder...my wallet and time are hoping so...

I had a local Toyota dealership do my timing belt/water pump job. It was warrantied for 12 months, 12,000 miles. Definitely bring it back to the dealer that did the job and have them fix it. They should fix it free of charge and I'd ask for a free loaner car while they do...

 

[Powder_Hound]

Well...after cleaning pink coolant off timing belt cover, hoses, etc...there are no more signs of leaking. After a tank of gas there are no signs of pink coolant anywhere. The plastic overflow reservoir is still sitting at about 1/2" - 1" below full line.

Now I am really perplexed....things that make you go hmmm.

 

[geurillawarfare]

Shortly after my timing belt / H20 pump job...done by Toyota...is when I first noticed the leak. Still on oil change done at same time. If it continues to leak, looks like I might be asking Toyota to "fix" if truly their blunder...my wallet and time are hoping so...

Dealer did timing belt on mine 5k miles ago, and I realized it was losing some coolant... Found 2 water pump bolts leaking, as well as the thermostat gasket. Also, one of the water pump studs was loose (and coincidentally, the loose one was *not* leaking). I would have left it as is and made dealer cover it under repair warranty but I don't let idiots touch my car (it was done right before I bought it). Yay for R&R water pump 2 times in 5k miles.

Clean all the dried coolant off really well and then run the engine for a little while at idle so the fan doesn't cause the coolant to travel so far. You should be able to spot the leak pretty quickly. FYI I have seen coolant hoses leak from the white cords that are molded in to them... The hose cracks internally and then coolant travels up thru the cord and out the cut end of the hose.

 

[Powder_Hound]

Update: !!!

Took to dealer that did timing belt and H20 work. Pressure tested and all pressure is good. No more leak when I dropped off to be inspected?!?!?! Suspected potential leak at Radiator Cap and replaced n/c! sweet... thinking if coolant leaked from rad cap it could have been sprayed around by fan...will keep an eye on things, but all is good for now!

 

[blackoutt]

Man you lucked out there, I hope that's the proper fix for you. Nice dealer too!

 

[Powder_Hound]

Man you lucked out there, I hope that's the proper fix for you. Nice dealer too!

I am definitely hoping so!

...since they did the H20 Pump and Timing Belt the coolant leak and pressure test / "inspection" was covered under warranty. The service writer even through in the new rad cap n/c! lol

Mountain States in Co is a stand up shop!!! When I dropped her off the cars checking in for repair were out of the service bay! A busy shop is usually an indicator of a good shop ... in my eyes!