98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?

Question

After a long trip in July over taking me from Ontario to Maryland - discovering that Pennsylvania is uphill both ways - I noticed that my coolant bottle was empty. No problem I thought and topped it up again. I checked it for the next few days and the level seemed stable.

Fast forward to last weekend when after putting my hard-top back on I noticed a small puddle in the driveway of radiator fluid. Checking the coolant bottle was empty again and there was radiator fluid in the tray at the bottom of the rad. I checked as well as I could but could not identify any leaks so I topped up again. After two days of driving to work (333km round trip) all seems fine still. The TJ has about 305,000km on it right now and I haven't replaced anything in the cooling system (yet).

Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I'm thinking perhaps my radiator cap might be weak but before I take it to the garage I thought I'd check to see what I should be asking them to check.

Thanks

Andrew Butchart snipped-for-privacy@floatingbear.ca

L.W.(ßill) Hughes III · Accepted Answer

Hi Andrew,     Your cap sealed well enough to suck coolant from your reservoir, soyou have a leak. A radiator shop may put it under pressure to find theleak. In the future change the coolant every two years and the radiatorand pump will last at least eight years.        God Bless America, ßill O|||||||Omailto:      Butchart wrote:

DougW · Answer

Andrew Butchart did pass the time by typing:

Check your hoses for cracks (including the heater hoses) and the weep hole on the water pumps output. You might have a "teeny" little leak in a hose that's pissing on the radiator when you stop.

If any hoses are cracked or bulging(soft) then replace them.

Andrew Butchart · Answer

Thanks for the input - I've got an appointment with my local mechanicto check it over on Monday.  No sense taking chances.Andrew B

James Gemmill · Answer

Also check your overflow tank.  They sometimes gwet a crack and  leak.news:...

Carlo · Answer

same thing happened to me.....looked all over & could not find the leak fora long time - I put the pressure tester on it & still found nothing. finallypulled off the overflow tank & put in some water to find the problem.

Andrew Butchart · Answer

It was the rad after all - the guy at the shop said he was amazed that I got 300,000km out of a radiator. I didn't know they were "wear" items. It's not as if I abuse the vehicle or overload it

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I now have a new radiator and a full credit card.

Thanks for the advice.

Andrew Butchart snipped-for-privacy@floatingbear.ca

98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?

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