Wrenchin... Adventures under the hood... Put em here.

[fatnslow]

Someone posted a link to free online factory service manuals awhile back but I can't find it. Anyone have a link ?
Working on a super slow coolant leak on a 06 xc70 and looking for cooling system diagram for reference to check all connections..I threw on a pressure tester and it's losing pressure but can't see anything. Probably the radiator but it's sandwiches between a fan and intercooler with poor aute lines. Looking at the side seems btt they are dry. Checked all the obvious places so need some better info.

[The Reverend Floater]

Someone posted a link to free online factory service manuals awhile back but I can't find it. Anyone have a link ?
Working on a super slow coolant leak on a 06 xc70 and looking for cooling system diagram for reference to check all connections..I threw on a pressure tester and it's losing pressure but can't see anything. Probably the radiator but it's sandwiches between a fan and intercooler with poor aute lines. Looking at the side seems btt they are dry. Checked all the obvious places so need some better info.

You check for head gasket symptoms?


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[fatnslow]

Don't even say that, that would make it a throw away car. HG is beyond my time/skill level and not worth the $$$. It looses 3-5 oz every 500-1500 miles.
Haven't actually dug very far beyond pressure test and looking in engine bay from top.

[gravitylover]

Don't even say that, that would make it a throw away car. HG is beyond my time/skill level and not worth the $$$. It looses 3-5 oz every 500-1500 miles.
Haven't actually dug very far beyond pressure test and looking in engine bay from top.

Get one of these or rent one at Autozone/Advance, etc. https://www.amazon.com/Block-Tester-.../dp/B06VVBSFTF You'll know in 5 minutes if it's a head gasket issue.

[basinbeater]

What's the inside of your oil filler cap look like?

[fatnslow]

What's the inside of your oil filler cap look like?

It's fine no, obvious signs of milkshake.

[Touring_Sedan]

It's fine no, obvious signs of milkshake.

If the HG is leaking 3-5oz every 1K, it's prolly not enough to make much of a milkshake. Do the combustion gas test. It's pretty conclusive.

[The Reverend Floater]

Don't even say that, that would make it a throw away car. HG is beyond my time/skill level and not worth the $$$. It looses 3-5 oz every 500-1500 miles.
Haven't actually dug very far beyond pressure test and looking in engine bay from top.

I didn’t *want* to say it. Just sounds like a remote, unlikely possibility that is NOT going to happen.

Having been there, agreed with Basin. Cheap, easy and you get peace of mind.


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[fatnslow]

I didn’t *want* to say it. Just sounds like a remote, unlikely possibility that is NOT going to happen.

Having been there, agreed with Basin. Cheap, easy and you get peace of mind.


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I get it. That'll be round 2 after more detailed pressure testing while laying on my back...

[fatnslow]

IDK about this shit sometimes. Performed a warm pressure test yesterday that showed some pressure loss but no visible leak that I would identify 21-17 or 18 psi in 15 minutes but but not sure if that was from warm hoses expanding ?
Just did a cold test and it's holding steady at 20psi after 10 minutes in, down to 19 psi after 20 minutes. Keep in mind this is these $59 unit sources from Amazon ...
I did put an extra clamp on a PCV coolant line that has some stains near it sometimes in the process yesterday.
I have a new cap that I installed and will keep monitoring. Might also source a block tester and eliminate or confirm possible HG. Would a block tester even show a HG leak that is so minor it weeps minor amounts of coolant (2-4 oZ in 500-100 miles at most) ?

My gut tells me I have a hairline crack or seam that is opening on the radiator as it warms up and under heavy load so it might now show up AND this system has very poor site lines to inspect visually.

[heckacali]

Per your last paragraph...

If this was the case it would be very visible as an external pressurized crack leaking under pressure would leave steam and a spray visible, and there would be coolant residue in the vicinity either under the area or in the range of the spray

[fatnslow]

Per your last paragraph...

If this was the case it would be very visible as an external pressurized crack leaking under pressure would leave steam and a spray visible, and there would be coolant residue in the vicinity either under the area or in the range of the spray

I don't have clear site lines to the complete seam , especially the front side. I have had other cars where the cracks takes many months to get bad enough to detect with pressure testing, literally a few drops under under full pressure where it stops when it reaches a certain PSI 2-3 psi delta.
If it was that obvious/big enough crack I would have seen it already.

[heckacali]

I'm not suggesting you can see the crack, but if there was a crack, under pressure, there would be visible coolant.... somewhere.

If there isn't visible coolant anywhere, and the HG test is ok, move on. ?

[fatnslow]

I'm not suggesting you can see the crack, but if there was a crack, under pressure, there would be visible coolant.... somewhere.

If there isn't visible coolant anywhere, and the HG test is ok, move on. ?

I agree. Just need to get a block tester.

[warthog]

Check your T-stat housing. They like to leak from there too.
HG test kit is pretty simple and will prevent you from throwing good $$ at it.
Also, look for white smoke out of the tailpipe once warmed up.

[fatnslow]

Check your T-stat housing. They like to leak from there too.
HG test kit is pretty simple and will prevent you from throwing good $$ at it.
Also, look for white smoke out of the tailpipe once warmed up.

That's one of the the first things I checked and zero steam from exhaust. I did replace a clamp at a weep point and replaced reservoir cap so ...

[warthog]

I won't put the map of how an HG can fail, that would be bad juju, but there are many paths for the coolant. Exhaust fumes making their way into the radiator seems to be the one universal tell all. Sounds like it probably isn't that though. Oil would show coolant too. Sounds like a radiator leak. Pressure kit sounds like the way to go.

[present tense]

fatnslow - maybe a long shot but I once had a mystery coolant leak on an older vehicle manifest as a slightly cracked coolant reservoir. Pretty sure it was result of front end damage or some other trail mishap that caused a hairline type crack or separation of the plastic overflow reservoir along a plastic mold joint. Can’t remember much more specifics. I do recall it being a PIA to pull out but was a cheap fix with some 2 part plastic epoxy. Was a really slow drip type leak that didn’t spray and leave all the other tell tale signs under pressurized coolant loss in the system.

On a completely different note, wife picked up a small machine screw in her tire recently and noticed it pretty quick with the TPMS sensor dropping to alarm level. Get the full size jack, tire off, lowered the donut spare from rear cargo area and immediately noticed the spare appeared to be a good inch or two taller and inch or two wider than the full size tire and wheel.

Have never seen that and questioned putting it on and how it would ride or affect AWD. Quick google search says to only put the “oversized” spare on the rear wheels, so. now I swap a rear tire up front and put the donut in the rear. Go figure. Also, realize it’s not recommended but the hole was tiny so I plugged with an old school fold in half plug and called it good. Sidewalls and overall tire condition was all good so we’ll ride on the plug until it’s time for a new set. Anyone else out there trusting enough of tire plugs for daily drivers? Can’t see how a blowout would be any higher risk than other tires since there’s no side all damage or other issues with “clean” and very small puncture opening? Even if the plug fails at highway speed I can’t see it being a violent loss of pressure through such a small plug hole.

[Rideski]

Since it's her car I'd go get a real internal patch and plug when convenient. I've run roadside plugs for hundreds of miles. But cheap insurance to get it done right when convenient instead of on a future dark snowy roadway especially if she might be solo.

[fatnslow]

fatnslow - maybe a long shot but I once had a mystery coolant leak on an older vehicle manifest as a slightly cracked coolant reservoir. Pretty sure it was result of front end damage or some other trail mishap that caused a hairline type crack or separation of the plastic overflow reservoir along a plastic mold joint. Can’t remember much more specifics. I do recall it being a PIA to pull out but was a cheap fix with some 2 part plastic epoxy. Was a really slow drip type leak that didn’t spray and leave all the other tell tale signs under pressurized coolant loss in the system.

On a completely different note, wife picked up a small machine screw in her tire recently and noticed it pretty quick with the TPMS sensor dropping to alarm level. Get the full size jack, tire off, lowered the donut spare from rear cargo area and immediately noticed the spare appeared to be a good inch or two taller and inch or two wider than the full size tire and wheel.

Have never seen that and questioned putting it on and how it would ride or affect AWD. Quick google search says to only put the “oversized” spare on the rear wheels, so. now I swap a rear tire up front and put the donut in the rear. Go figure. Also, realize it’s not recommended but the hole was tiny so I plugged with an old school fold in half plug and called it good. Sidewalls and overall tire condition was all good so we’ll ride on the plug until it’s time for a new set. Anyone else out there trusting enough of tire plugs for daily drivers? Can’t see how a blowout would be any higher risk than other tires since there’s no side all damage or other issues with “clean” and very small puncture opening? Even if the plug fails at highway speed I can’t see it being a violent loss of pressure through such a small plug hole.

Checked the reservoir first and all day/every day with diy plugs BUT can't argue with stopping in for a proper patch.

[Touring_Sedan]

Oil Drain Plug - 1

Fasteners to get there - 43

[gravitylover]

That's part of the Rover service convenience package.

[byates1]

this is rad

[snowaddict91]

Picture this- you're cruising along at 40 mph on a snow covered dirt road to the local Nordic TH when suddenly your truck warns you that it's overheating. Because you drive a Ford, you assume its a bad sensor, but before you finish that thought you smell coolant. Opened the hood and found that the upper radiator hose's plastic connector end had exploded.

Pretty weird failure that resulted in a tow home, didn't want to risk engine damage since I was probably 20 plus miles out. Thankfully the tow truck driver was in a 4x4 rollback and didn't give a shit where I was. Also thankful for the 1 bar of service I had.

New rad hose and coolant, time to cross my fingers and hope that it wasn't a symptom of a bigger cooling system problem. I replaced the cap as well to rule that out. Test drive went well.

Seeing how brittle the connector was that broke makes me think I'll swap the rest of the hoses and plastic bits after winter's over. Might just do the water pump while I'm in there.

Pretty scenic spot to break down. Lesson learned, don't go Nordic Skiing.

[byates1]

Lol! Re Nordic joke. Glad she didn't cook.