Why is my coolant leaking?

[clembrewer]

2001 Focus LX with the SPI engine.

I noticed green spots in the snow this weekend. The coolant resivor (sp) was low. I tens to use my cars as battering rams to get through smaller snow banks. Could this cause a problem?

Pretty sure it's only leaking when it is hot though as none collected overnight.

The car's never done this before. I'll have to keep an eye on it.

 

[01rangerxl]

The first thing I would look at is the water pump. There should be a hole on top of it (normal). If coolant is coming out of that hole, it is time for a new one.

Check all the hoses, and check anything that goes into the radiator, such as transmission lines. Look for obvious damage to the radiator too. It may be a little pin hole leak, in which case a dye, like Tracerline, will help locate it better.

Using the car to ram into snow banks probably could cause some kind of damage. If there is something in the snow bank like a rock, that could plow into the radiator.

 

[vacuum_6]

Maybe one of the rad tubes popped. There is epoxy out there to seal a rad tube. I had it done on my old one, 5 years no problems. Get the rad psi tested.

 

[alanu]

I know the Zetec motors are notorious for leaking at the upper rad hose plastic adapter on the block. The plastic unit caves in and sucks in the O ring.

Just get a pressure test.

Change oil frequently with that engine. The bottom ends are spinning conrod bearings alot!!!!!! Just had 2 friends with the split port enines seize (grocery getter/mature drivers). Both were a tad over 120,000km.

 

[mechtech2]

Is it a DOHC Zetec?
A leak can be from anywhere. Any hose, thermostat housing, water pump, head gasket, reservoir, radiator, etc..
A pressure test is a good quick way to find out where the weak link is.

 

[Gary Allan]

When cold, park in a spot where there is no visible deposit of anything. Start vehicle. Go inside. Come out in 3 minutes. See anything? No? Go back in. Come out in 3 minutes. See anything? No? Look at temp gauge. Go back in. Come out in 3 minutes. Look at gauge. Look at ground again. Nothing? Go back in ..come out in 3 minutes. Gauge should be at normal temp. Look. See anything? Nope? Turn it off ..go back in and spend a few hours doing whatever you would normally do. Put your coat on ..go back out..and look to see where the coolant landed.

It's either doing it during the warm up, at temp/pressure, or during the cool down. Otherwise it should be pumping out all that time.

Something like this I would normally say loose clamps ..but you probably have fixed tension clamps without screws.

 

[Merkava_4]

I noticed no one has suggested opening the hood to the engine compartment; so that's what I'll suggest.

 

[alanu]

the split port SOHC motor (the one that likes to sieze) has a very similar plastic adapter on the side of the head. Thats a good place for a coolant leak. Yes the waterpump is also in question. Hunt and get a pressure test done.

 

[johnd]

With trucks, at least, sometimes you get "cold flow" leaks. Usually they are where hoses join fittings. A little tightening will usually fix it but they can be tricky to find. Above procedure would probably work.