Good news, I located the source of my coolant leak. Bad news, I located the source of my coolant leak.
A few weeks ago I started noticing some coolant puddles on the drivers side in the garage. Nothing too bad. I figured that it was the lower radiator hose (original) or the gasket around the waterpump housing. I replaced the hose and the leak continued. I couldn't find anything around the waterpump. Then the other day I got the low coolant message and the car began to slowly overheat. When I opened the hood, I heard a hissing sound behind the throttle body.
I waited for it to cool and upon further inspection, I found a small puddle on the back of the engine. It was dripping pretty fast into my catch-pan. About a month ago I was losing coolant. The replacement Specta radiator that I installed has a drain and the drain is plugged with a rubber cap that feels the need to break every 8 months. When I replaced the plug and topped it off, I didn't put new tablets in because it was negative 10 and I didn't feel like working on it anymore.
Yesterday I put six tabled into the lower hose and refilled it. Upon first full warm up the leak was significantly slower. I cooled the engine and warmed it five more times and drove it for 3 miles. Sitting overnight there was no "hiss" and this morning there were no puddles. I drove 15 minutes to work, 15 minutes home, and ran some errands. No puddles still.
How long can I expect the Bar's Leak to hold? I need some warmer weather before I consider doing the cross over. Even with a heater in the garage, it is just too cold out.
A few weeks ago I started noticing some coolant puddles on the drivers side in the garage. Nothing too bad. I figured that it was the lower radiator hose (original) or the gasket around the waterpump housing. I replaced the hose and the leak continued. I couldn't find anything around the waterpump. Then the other day I got the low coolant message and the car began to slowly overheat. When I opened the hood, I heard a hissing sound behind the throttle body.
I waited for it to cool and upon further inspection, I found a small puddle on the back of the engine. It was dripping pretty fast into my catch-pan. About a month ago I was losing coolant. The replacement Specta radiator that I installed has a drain and the drain is plugged with a rubber cap that feels the need to break every 8 months. When I replaced the plug and topped it off, I didn't put new tablets in because it was negative 10 and I didn't feel like working on it anymore.
Yesterday I put six tabled into the lower hose and refilled it. Upon first full warm up the leak was significantly slower. I cooled the engine and warmed it five more times and drove it for 3 miles. Sitting overnight there was no "hiss" and this morning there were no puddles. I drove 15 minutes to work, 15 minutes home, and ran some errands. No puddles still.
How long can I expect the Bar's Leak to hold? I need some warmer weather before I consider doing the cross over. Even with a heater in the garage, it is just too cold out.
