Possible coolant leak

[BrettZ]

Hi allMy coolant level has dropped in the reservoir approximately 1" in the last 6-8 months. I haven't noticed any coolant leaking at any time. Is this something to be concerned about? What do you guys think?The reading is always taken after the car has been off for 3+ hours and is on level ground.Its a base 05 Vibe with 62000kms

[dgekiere]

i would worry about losing that little, its pry just evaperated

[djkeev]

That isn't significant but.Does it ever overheat?Have you ever seen a puddle under the engine?Have you ever smelled hot coolant?Yes, it does "evaporate", it is basically water and hot water will have a volume loss. The overflow tank isn't sealed, the radiator is sealed and "burps" expansion into the plastic tank, any steam is free to escape at this point. When the coolant cools off in the radiator it sucks it back in to maintain a full radiator. Any loss will appear in the plastic tank.Water pumps will also weep a little moisture. They are designed to do so and a little drip here and there is just fine.I'd top it off, keep an eye on it but not worry at this point unless you've seen or smelled something.You could get it pressure tested, this has to be / SHOULD be done stone cold before any startup of the engine has taken place and will require an overnight stay at a repair shop.... unless you have the pressure tester, something few people have! (I'm one of the few )Dave

[joatmon]

I agree with DaveJust check it more often than every 6 months. You want to find out if it lost the inch at a steady rate over a six month period, or if it didn't lose any for months and then suddenly lost an inch yesterday.

[Salsa Guy]

Could be the time of year. Expands in the summer and contracts in the winter. Also tuning on the car heater could cause some volume displacement. 1 inch shouldn't be a concern unless you see/smell signs of leaking.

[BrettZ]

Thanks all, that makes me feel better. I usually try check all the fluids biweekly but I'll admit I've slacked the last month or so.

[cq358]

Also, ever since 2000, Toyota has been using this new type of aluminum single pass radiator. It actually contract and expands more than the old " painted in black radiator". Therefore it is very frequent to have low level show at the over flow tank.I think when the Celica first come out in 2000, Toyota call this new radiator has a better heat transfer characteristic therefore it smaller and lighter( cheaper too).Now I work in HVAC and i see we are starting to use this type of radiator as our condenser and heat exchanger.Since the expansion and contraction rate is larger than the copper tube and fin coil, we have to pay special attention to mounting.. this type of coil can not mounted rigidly(cannot mount 4 coroners) or else it might break during expansion.

[BrettZ]

Another question.. What type of coolant should the 05 vibe have? I searched some threads and the collective answer is it came from the factory with Toyota super long life coolant (pink)?

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by BrettZ »Another question.. What type of coolant should the 05 vibe have? I searched some threads and the collective answer is it came from the factory with Toyota super long life coolant (pink)?It is much talked about if you do a search but..... being built in a Toyota Factory along with Toyota's it would be amazing and surprising if it had anything in it except for Toyota's coolant for whatever model year your car is.Dave

[cq358]

If I remember correctly 04 and up Toyota uses super long life pink coolant.

[Cougar Vibe]

Another option for you, if you're really "worried," is to take a sample next time you change your oil and send it off to Blackstone or one of the other labs. It's not cheap (~$30), but you might be catching a problem before it becomes a "serious" one.BTW: I have a '97 Grand Caravan that drinks Peak (or whatever is on sale) like an alcoholic cat. Over the course of three months it will go from "full" on the reservoir to almost bone dry; being as it's only worth a couple of grand, it's not worth fixing. And I've yet to see any condensation in the valve cover or on the dipstick; no billowing smoke from the rear either. Hopefully she holds out until I can trade her in sometime next fall.

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by Cougar Vibe »Another option for you, if you're really "worried," is to take a sample next time you change your oil and send it off to Blackstone or one of the other labs. It's not cheap (~$30), but you might be catching a problem before it becomes a "serious" one.BTW: I have a '97 Grand Caravan that drinks Peak (or whatever is on sale) like an alcoholic cat. Over the course of three months it will go from "full" on the reservoir to almost bone dry; being as it's only worth a couple of grand, it's not worth fixing. And I've yet to see any condensation in the valve cover or on the dipstick; no billowing smoke from the rear either. Hopefully she holds out until I can trade her in sometime next fall.What are you concerned about that a lab test will reveal? A blown head gasket or cracked head? Seems like a waste of money for lab fees for a slightly reduced overflow tank level and no operation issues, visible puddles or noticeable smells.On the Caravan, that's a LOT of coolant to show no signs of where it is going.These pieces of crap (I can say that, I have currently have one in my care....it's # 3, I just never learn!) are notorious for bad radiator end cap to core seals. If you have a rear heater they made the pipes that feed it hot water out of what seems to be metallic cardboard that rusts away in an instant and is a (removed) to replace (no, it's metal, just of extremely poor quality and rusts very very quickly) You would not notice a dirveway wet spot where you'd expect one but well back behind the front seat area. On the current car, I just creatively used some heater hose and completely abandoned the idea of rear heat!!That water is going somewhere. Leaking it, burning it, or your carpet inside the car is absolutely saturated like a full sponge!! Your engine oil level doesn't INCREASE between oil changes does it?Good LuckDave