Odd Coolant Leak, 89 N/A

Talos_MR2 · 04-19-2008, 08:16 PM

My car has developed a rather annoying coolant leak recently after fixing a leaky Thermostat.

1989
N/A
5Speed
233,000 miles

PO took exceptional care of the car before me and gave me a 7lb folder full of his maintence records but I'm replacing a couple of wear items, some as preventative maint. and others because they are a wee' past due. So its not perfect but is well kept.

I've enjoyed a (major) trouble free 7 months with my two until about 2 weeks ago. I noticed that a smalle puddle of coolant was forming directly under my bellhousing every time I parked.. I went home after work and isolated the leak to the T-Stat (It was pooling around the housing and dripping down both sides of the bellhousing) and promptly tore it apart and replaced it. (The old T-stat was in good shape aswell as the O-Ring but the housing bolts were rather loose when I was pulling it apart.) Mystery solved. I replaced the T-stat, put on a bit of RTV just to be safe and finished the repair. I spent the next hour bleeding and burping the cooling system to get the air out. I noticed today while changing my oil that the leak was back. I tried to tighten the bolts and noticed that they were still snug. I checked the area around the T-stat housing; its still nice and dry. The problem went away for a little while but came back, it will randomly stop leaking sometimes. Car has never overheated.

This is how my eyes followed the leak, moving from the ground up.

Dripping from bottom of bellhousing then up front facing side of transmission, under the starter before stopping near what looks like the heater hose block. Had problems following the leak after the starter since it's a ratnest of hoses.

I'm resonably sure that the leak is somewhere in this area;

Eh, that picture was pointless.

Closer.

The circle is NOT the two hoses but the coolant housing taking in the top heaterhose. The circle is where I think the coolant leak starts before it plays oregan trail across my lower drivetrain.

What i've done;
I've checked the hoses and they are good.
Rechecked the Thermostat, its leakfree
Sacrificed my neighbor's dog apon the 5-point star of the unclean in the hopes the darklord will stop the coolant weep.

I'll get some pictures from under the car/between the firewall and engine later since my batteries croaked.

Anyone else have a similar issue?

Ben · 04-19-2008, 09:07 PM

I'm having a coolant leak on my MKII from the oil cooler coolant feed line. I replaced the gasket and it is still leaking. So when I decided to get up and fix it, I need to inspect the metal mating surfaces for cracks.

You might need to do the same thing and inspect for cracks......

Clean motor by the way

Most 4AGEs I've ever seen are covered in oil...

2restomod · 04-19-2008, 11:01 PM

Have you checked to see that the bolts holding the water neck to the block are tight? They are on each side of your circle, the part that those fuel lines attach to.

Talos_MR2 · 04-20-2008, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

I'm having a coolant leak on my MKII from the oil cooler coolant feed line. I replaced the gasket and it is still leaking. So when I decided to get up and fix it, I need to inspect the metal mating surfaces for cracks.

You might need to do the same thing and inspect for cracks......

Clean motor by the way

Most 4AGEs I've ever seen are covered in oil...

I did a quick visual, didn't see any coolant coming off the line's housing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2restomod

Have you checked to see that the bolts holding the water neck to the block are tight? They are on each side of your circle, the part that those fuel lines attach to.

Shows how much I know about these engines, I'm used to chevy.

I'll check it out tomarrow.

mr2tim · 04-26-2008, 05:55 AM

Advice from Queen Creek looks like the ticket.

Page Em-55 (BGB) id's this piece as the Cylinder Head Rear Cover.

The adjecent Gasket is not reuseable per Toyota!!!

HINT:Clean both surfaces down to metal. Don't relay on the gasket to mate dirty parts and you won't have to redo it next year.

Toyota has no specs on tightening this rear cover that i could see.

Nice photography dude.

Cool runnings,

mr2tim

04-19-2008, 08:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Talos_MR2 No Skills Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 9 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Odd Coolant Leak, 89 N/A My car has developed a rather annoying coolant leak recently after fixing a leaky Thermostat. 1989 N/A 5Speed 233,000 miles PO took exceptional care of the car before me and gave me a 7lb folder full of his maintence records but I'm replacing a couple of wear items, some as preventative maint. and others because they are a wee' past due. So its not perfect but is well kept. I've enjoyed a (major) trouble free 7 months with my two until about 2 weeks ago. I noticed that a smalle puddle of coolant was forming directly under my bellhousing every time I parked.. I went home after work and isolated the leak to the T-Stat (It was pooling around the housing and dripping down both sides of the bellhousing) and promptly tore it apart and replaced it. (The old T-stat was in good shape aswell as the O-Ring but the housing bolts were rather loose when I was pulling it apart.) Mystery solved. I replaced the T-stat, put on a bit of RTV just to be safe and finished the repair. I spent the next hour bleeding and burping the cooling system to get the air out. I noticed today while changing my oil that the leak was back. I tried to tighten the bolts and noticed that they were still snug. I checked the area around the T-stat housing; its still nice and dry. The problem went away for a little while but came back, it will randomly stop leaking sometimes. Car has never overheated. This is how my eyes followed the leak, moving from the ground up. Dripping from bottom of bellhousing then up front facing side of transmission, under the starter before stopping near what looks like the heater hose block. Had problems following the leak after the starter since it's a ratnest of hoses. I'm resonably sure that the leak is somewhere in this area; Eh, that picture was pointless. Closer. The circle is NOT the two hoses but the coolant housing taking in the top heaterhose. The circle is where I think the coolant leak starts before it plays oregan trail across my lower drivetrain. What i've done; I've checked the hoses and they are good. Rechecked the Thermostat, its leakfree Sacrificed my neighbor's dog apon the 5-point star of the unclean in the hopes the darklord will stop the coolant weep. I'll get some pictures from under the car/between the firewall and engine later since my batteries croaked. Anyone else have a similar issue?

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04-19-2008, 09:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ben Same In The End Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oceanside, CA / Reno, NV Posts: 4,274 Thanks: 20 Thanked 309 Times in 284 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (16/100% )	I'm having a coolant leak on my MKII from the oil cooler coolant feed line. I replaced the gasket and it is still leaking. So when I decided to get up and fix it, I need to inspect the metal mating surfaces for cracks. You might need to do the same thing and inspect for cracks...... Clean motor by the way Most 4AGEs I've ever seen are covered in oil...

04-19-2008, 11:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
2restomod msnusers.com/mr2projects Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Queen Creek, AZ Posts: 377 Thanks: 23 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Have you checked to see that the bolts holding the water neck to the block are tight? They are on each side of your circle, the part that those fuel lines attach to.

04-26-2008, 05:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
mr2tim SUPERcharZed ToyZ RacZer Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,789 Thanks: 8 Thanked 118 Times in 111 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (6/100% )	Advice from Queen Creek looks like the ticket. Page Em-55 (BGB) id's this piece as the Cylinder Head Rear Cover. The adjecent Gasket is not reuseable per Toyota!!! HINT:Clean both surfaces down to metal. Don't relay on the gasket to mate dirty parts and you won't have to redo it next year. Toyota has no specs on tightening this rear cover that i could see. Nice photography dude. Cool runnings, mr2tim