I've had a crazy coolant leak going on since last summer. It doesn't lose a lot, maybe a quart every couple weeks but it keeps the coolant reserve tank from working because when the van cools off, there's not enough suction to pull coolant from the tank to the radiator (so the tank stays at 'full' but the radiator gets low). There are no external leaks. I replaced the radiator as I found the upper seam was leaking and I thought that was the solution, but no. The van has about 170K miles.
So I'm figuring that the coolant is getting into the engine somehow. Not into the oil as its color is right, but into the cylinder. Also, when I start it cold, for a few seconds the van often runs rough like a cylinder is misfiring. When I do a cooling system pressure test, it holds pretty well so it's not a big leak.
I ran the van with the radiator cap off today and the coolant up to the edge. I was getting some bubbles. Later I tried the same thing again and got no bubbles.
I pulled the front spark plugs and #2 has light colored deposits on it that #4 and #6 don't. From what I've read, I understand that could mean a coolant leak. Also, I shined a light through the spark plug holes. The top of the piston of #2 is wet and the others aren't.
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What might be more likely to be happening: A head gasket leak, an intake manifold gasket leak, a cracked head or something else??
Thanks,
Bill
So I'm figuring that the coolant is getting into the engine somehow. Not into the oil as its color is right, but into the cylinder. Also, when I start it cold, for a few seconds the van often runs rough like a cylinder is misfiring. When I do a cooling system pressure test, it holds pretty well so it's not a big leak.
I ran the van with the radiator cap off today and the coolant up to the edge. I was getting some bubbles. Later I tried the same thing again and got no bubbles.
I pulled the front spark plugs and #2 has light colored deposits on it that #4 and #6 don't. From what I've read, I understand that could mean a coolant leak. Also, I shined a light through the spark plug holes. The top of the piston of #2 is wet and the others aren't.
What might be more likely to be happening: A head gasket leak, an intake manifold gasket leak, a cracked head or something else??
Thanks,
Bill
