Coolant spraying...but cant pinpoint where. Ideas???

[tsi1991awd]

So I installed my stainless steel coolant overflow tank and it went alright. But for the past...oh I dont know, week or so, there has been coolant near the top of my tranny/upper intercooler pipe/shift cables. I thought it was because my overflow tank was missing (flew off and under the car while driving) But today I drove the car and found it sprayed on the upper intercooler pipe, top of tranny, shift cables, and a little bit by the battery. I cant pinpoint any leak.

I looked at the back of the t-stat housing where coolant lines come off of it, no leaks there. No leaks at the front of the thermostat housing. All the hoses are clamped. I dont know of any other places coolant would come from?? Any ideas?

There is no coolant on the intake or on the BOV recirc hose. So it is something behind the intake pipe but around the thermostat area, but I dont see anything at all. What are some possible places it could be?

 

[cincinnati4g]

Look for split or cracked lines. They like to rot from the heat of the coolant over time and become brittle. A bright blue LED light picks up the green coolant color pretty well, would definitely help in your quest.

 

[blackGSX2g]

Pick up some UV dye from a local auto parts store and put in your cooling system. Then put it under a black light and it should 'shed some light' as to the origin of your coolant leak.

 

[my98gsx]

there are a few coolant lines that run in this area. ( over transmission and under intercooler pipes. )

The two big ones connect to your firewall and attach to your heater core inside the car. ( follow the large coolant pipe around the block and to the passenger side the coolant hoses connect under the thermostat housing. )

There are also two smaller hoses that connect from that pipe to the throttle body. ( two nipples are located under the throttle body )

Check these for leaks, or loose hose clamps.

 

[tsi1991awd]

I dont have the lines connected to the TB anymore. Since it was on my tranny and in that general area, the first place I looked was the two hoses to the heater core and the one at the back of the TB that is no just "looped" since I did the FIAV bypass. The one in front that goes to the coolant overflow is a brand new line. The short one that connects from under the thermostat to the turbo is also a brand new line. If I put the UV dye in, do I have to have the car running to tell where it is coming from? Also I didnt notice the leak until I am driving. So....I have no idea.

 

[blackGSX2g]

If I put the UV dye in, do I have to have the car running to tell where it is coming from? Also I didnt notice the leak until I am driving. So....I have no idea.

You don't have to, but when you put more of a load on your cooling system (i.e. driving) it will put the full operating pressure on your hoses and will make the leak easier to find.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

Have you considered saving yourself hours of hassle, and just using a coolant system pressure tester?

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[tsi1991awd]

I was scoping under the car after work, as the car was warming up and saw a small puddle of coolant and tiny drips. Popped the hood and checked around and it was coming from one of the short hoses coming off of from under the thermostat housing. It originally didnt seem like it was coming from there, but at least the culprit is found. Thanks for the help, all.

 

[blakktalon]

While your at it you may as well replace the two hoses that go to the firewall, they eventually crack and are a pita,i had a really bad leak from one and we couldnt even see it until i revved the engine up while my friends watched, once it built up enough pressure we could see a 2 inch crack running lengthwise