Still Leaking

[Gwfl]

My bird still has a runny nose. Last time I was at Ford they said "not leaking" just residue fluid left in the subframe from the repaired coolant line. It sounded like a blowoff to me but I gave them the benefit of my doubt and decided to give it more time before I pursued it further. It's been 200 miles since then and I still get drips, although smaller.

Today I started off to the Dealer to complain but thought it over and decided to drive the car some more miles just to be sure.

My question for everyone is where else might I be getting a very slow leak of coolant from? It shows up only after 24 hours or more of being parked. One time no leak for 72 hours but when I started the car and then shut it down there was a small drip underneath).

I'm thinking the water pump might be the next place to look....fluid slowly leaking out of a seal and then finally making its way to a weep hole.

Bad gasket somewhere? Cracked block (God forbid)?

Any ideas?

Gary

[Lonestar]

Re: Still Leaking

One thing you could try if you wanted to and are able. Get your garden hose out with sprayer and hose down the front underside making sure to squirt water into the holes in the front carriage structure. Now, if your car has never seen rain this may kill you but it could flush out any residue coolant left over from the repair. See if after doing this you still have an issue.

Where specifically are you seeing the drops in relation to the engine (front center, left front, left rear, etc.)?

[FritsB]

Re: Still Leaking

Gary are you sure it's coolant fluid. My Bird 'leaks' also after a short drive, but it is condense from the airco unit. I have had several people pointing out my car is leaking fluid, but it is just condense water that is pushed out after a short or longer drive.

[Judge]

Re: Still Leaking

Gary,

Could it be that the coolant overflow tank is to full after the engine cools and is expelling excess fluid from the tank?

[Sweet T]

Re: Still Leaking

I had a hairline fracture of the coolant bottle......leaked the most under pressure.

I believe they can pressure test that for you.

[worldclasswheels]

Re: Still Leaking

Its the coolant bottle they all crack if you have more 40,000 miles on your car. Thanks, Rick

[00mustng]

Re: Still Leaking

....a cooling system pressure test should give you the answer?.....

[Gwfl]

Re: Still Leaking

I'll be bringing the car over to talk to them tomorrow. Its already been pressure tested and that's how they found the original leak that they "repaired". I plan to talk to the head of service this time to see if we can't approach this problem in a better, more consistant manner.

Gary

[Gwfl]

Re: Still Leaking

Dropped the car off today for a few days. They now believe it's oil that's leaking. They're going to put dye in it to check. We'll see.

Gary

[Daktari]

Re: Still Leaking

Hi there,

Sounds strange to me. I would have thought a dealership would be able to tell the difference between coolant liquid and oil without having to do the dye thing.

Gordon.

[Gwfl]

Re: Still Leaking

Gordon. I agree. Talk about flip flopping! I do run synthetic oil which appears thinner but you would think there would be a simple test to tell...like adding water to my sample. Since I went and spoke to the assistant service manager they are all over me trying to make me happy...hope that helps to find the leak!

Gary