How To Find A Coolant Leak Without Visible Leaks

Does your coolant reservoir keep going empty but you can't find the leak? No drips on the ground, no smoke from the tailpipe... Where could it be going on this Ford Fusion and many other newer vehicles? Enjoy!
gotech.com/

[@SchrodingersBox]

A really great test is to take a few drops of oil and put it on a piece of aluminum foil then put a lighter under the foil to heat it. If there is coolant in the oil it will make an unmistakable sizzle. Pure oil will just smoke but not sizzle. It’s also an easy way I will test a used car during an Inspection for a potential head gasket leak. After test driving the car and getting the exhaust manifold hot, drip a little from the dipstick onto the exhaust manifold to see if it sizzles.

[@coycarlson4979]

Pure crap that the automotive engineers are designing engines these days where a water pump is installed inside engine design - but we all know they want you to bring your vehicle back for repair instead of you doing the repair yourself 🤨

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Coy Carlson, cars certainly are harder to work on today...that's for sure. This one gets the whole engine, trans and subframe dropped for this waterpump job. Engine comes out the bottom too. Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@KyleWilliam-hg6zh]

IVE BEEN LOOKING AT VIDEOS FOR DAYS AND DAYS, AND THIS IS THE MOST HELPFUL ONE BY FAR!

[@d.d4184]

Nice Mike. Usually when we see this we think head gasket.

[@James-fs4rn]

👍 thanks Mike. always enjoy everything you do.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey James, thanks for watching! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@michaelpiecewicz9748]

Thanks Mike as always great info! Hope you and the family have a great 4th of July

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Michael, thanks for watching! We did, I hope you did as well. Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@sidlazzar1002]

Thanks! I’ve been having coolant loss and no over heating or visible leaks but checked my oil today and seen it was overfilled and chocolate brown in my 03 s80. Water pump most likely since it’s almost at the 200,000 mile mark

[@djosbun]

Have a great July 4th weekend, Mike!

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks Dave! You as well! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Today's engineering just boggles my mind sometimes. New ways to introduce coolant where it shouldn't go! 🤣 The stuff I see regularly is normally much older than this, so good to know what's in store for me in the coming years. Thanks for the heads-up, Mike! 👍

[@bernardaflores1720]

Great tip and info!

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks much! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@theusconstitution1776]

Dealers had the car four times in two years they change the radiator cap the second time and the other three times was I don’t know in the meantime my daughter‘s wear in the engine out in her car never thought to look at the water pump thank you very much❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸

[@gagecarlile3111]

Wow. That Home Depot training music just threw me back

[@jmc6940]

Engine oil analysis works great. You can also heat up a pan to 250 f and drip a few drops of oil onto pan. You can then watch water boil out of oil if present.

[@GoTechTraining]

Woah that sounds pretty cool JMC. I've heard of people sending stuff into a company, Blackstone, I think. I've never had to send anything in but I'm hoping someday I get the chance to. That would be interesting to see results of. Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@jmc6940]

@@GoTechTraining i just received an oil sample back with water present. It also had high copper and lead levels. Those particularly metals indicate the main bearings have worn. Neat stuff.

[@GoTechTraining]

That is cool to see. What did that run you to have done? Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@jmc6940]

@@GoTechTraining nothing i work for catapillar. It was a customer's machine.

[@jmc6940]

@@GoTechTraining 20.00 I think.

[@boratsmagadijev940]

Very informative. Ty👌

[@korinjewell]

My coolant levels keep dropping after getting my water outlet fixed it started acting like it was about to over heat Saturday, I filled it back up with coolant and by Monday it was only a tiny bit left , my heat blows out hot when I’m driving it but cold when I’m at a light or parked.

[@leor838]

When you have a slow coolant leak as you describe what would you expect your oil pressure to be at higher or lower than normal. That could also help you diagnose this issue. Thanks for the great tip.

[@larrywhitesell4139]

I have a 2010 ford ranger 4L that uses antifreeze intermintently. Oil is clean. Exhaust seems normal. Is there a test kit for the exhaust to see if its being burnt ?

[@edardon16]

I have the same problem in a 4 runner 99 but this truck have a timing belt no chain,I don't know where the coolant is going.water pump is new, timing belt is new, the problem start after replacing both head gaskets.

[@tino3609]

I have a 2007 dodge magnum 6.1 and my coolant keeps getting low like that but the pressure test didn’t show anything also water pump was change , temp sensor, fan there is some time white smoke out the exhaust

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

Thanks for the video

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks for watching! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@angelinalozada189]

Thank You.

[@karenkoenig9829]

I would add one more test to the oil dipstick, a smell test, if oil smells sweet...problem... Thx for the video....

[@seanderrington6631]

Great video. I am having same issue with my wife’s 2013 Buick enclave, she came back from work the other day, fan continued to run after the car was turned off. Check the coolant and it was bone dry. Car is having overheating issues now as well. Of course this happened at 4 pm on a Friday 🤯

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Sean, thanks for watching! Ugh that's brutal man. Hope it's not a major repair for ya!

[@jimmy.2x_593]

Im having the same problem with my 2013 Buick encore… it starts overheating after I drive so long on it… I can’t find out what the problem is

[@navdeepsingh3101]

Hi, my mazda 3 coolant reservior is getting empty in 15 mins after i fill n run if for 15 mins. It’s headache 🤕

[@rickrogers2649]

Good info as always Mike. Now that cars are designed by bean counters I wonder what the car companies have the engineers doing. 🤔

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Rick, thanks for watching! I know what they haven't been doing, talking to technicians ;) Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@dummkompf]

how nice of them to put the water pump, a component that's known to always fail at some point in every car, in the oiling system. almost seems like they intentionally designed it to not last as long

[@TheBLUETOOTHpoet]

They 100% bastardizing BROTHERHOOD !

[@gonzgarr1592]

great tip

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks for watching Gonz Garr! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@grumpysgarage4790]

More than likely put inside the engine for packaging the engine in tight engine compartments of different platforms. Should really have designed an external, electrically driven, water pump like the euros use, AKA: Break My Wallet.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Grumpy's Garage, yeh that's probably true. That 3.5L is CRAMMED under the hood of a 2010 Fusion! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@3kkk514]

Will this be possible in turbo leaking coolant?

[@09hoseclamp]

I’ve got disappearing coolant on my 04 Nissan Titan and see weep marks on the plastic end caps bonded to the ends of the metal middle portion of the radiator. Oil is clean, so time for a new radiator.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey, that sounds about right. Good luck on the replacement! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@mikeburton1733]

Hey Mike. I thought for sure you were going after an intake manifold internal leak. Never thought of the internal water pump. I thought engineers were supposed to be smart. :( lol. Thanks again for the tip Mike.

[@garygarafano8341]

IDK if it's all Ford 3.5L but don't they have an external weep hole for the water pump?

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Gary, yes, the do. They don't always leak from them though. The weep holes in a great place too...right behind the alternator lol! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@jafarjewan2292]

Helpful

[@johnstack5008]

Do you think those "stop leak" coolant additives could plug up a coolant leak into the crankcase?

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey John, I'm not a fan of additives, the passages on radiators and heater cores today are so tiny, I'd be afraid of plugging some of that stuff up. ~Mike

[@haroldlerma3339]

I have a 2013 ford explorer with the 3.5L and has been loosing coolant. I dont see any visibly leak and i just checked the dipstick and its normal ( level and color). What else should i check? Im getting tired of buying coolant constantly.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hi Harold, If your Explorer is burning coolant with no visible leaks your engine could be consuming it. Do yo have any excessive white smoke or smell coming from your Exhaust? If so, it could be caused by a failed head gasket or coolant leaking into your cylinders. I would also check for coolant loss from your HVAC system, such as a leaking heater core or rear HVAC lines if your vehicle is equipped with rear heat. Thanks, Ryan Wilsing, Technical Instructor

[@mikechiodetti4482]

My old 06 Nissan Frontier 4.0L hasn't had that problem, but then I replaced the water pump when I replaced the chains, tensioners and guides. Well, just another item to be replaced when doing the above work. Otherwise, it's the second time in teardown the pump will get replaced.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Mike, thanks for watching! So I'm doing chains, guides, and tensioners in this motor since i'll be in there for a pump. Just like on a timing belt motor...when in Rome lol! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@TheMrBennito]

I knew about the milky oil item, so that's what I of course checked as my car seems to loose coolant without visible leaks. Yet that isn't the issue, the oil is black. Still a mystery what causes the coolant loss....

[@GoTechTraining]

Coolant could be leaking internally and being burned in the cylinder. The oil would still stay clear. What are you working on? ~Mike

[@nickie7nicole7]

@TheMrBennito So what did you discover to be the problem???

[@obroberts6533]

Taikuu, I have a neighbor has a f-150 and we can't find the leak, we will sure take a look at the oil, tho there is never an over full on the stick, quite the opposite, have to add oil freq.

[@scottsandquist5381]

I'm having the same problem with my 95 f150 5.0 ... Did you ever find your leak?

[@cantucesar1988]

Im having this issue with my 2105 Lincoln mkz. But i noticed it happens when i drive to work. I work 25 miles away from my home. In the morning its on the max line and by the end of the day is below the min line 😢

[@GoTechTraining]

Do you have to top it off then? The coolant level will differ between hot and cold.

[@cantucesar1988]

@@GoTechTraining turns out my water pump was messed up 🥹

[@ronnieallen6986]

I'm having same problem on my 06 freightliner in my case I don't see the leak I do see steam and smell it only after the temperature gets very high I lose lot more going up a hill I'm now going to a freightliner in Valley,AL tomorrow

[@GoTechTraining]

Good luck Ronnie! Hopefully it's nothing major! ~Mike

[@ronnieallen6986]

@@GoTechTraining me too so far might be a bad EGR cooler that be my problem not a cheap fix The EGR cooler average cost $2,000 With labor at Freightliner shop be between $3,000 to $4,000 I'm heading to the shop now

[@terryharvey4811]

Not as milky as i'm use to seeing with head gasket, cracked head leaks. Is it just not leaking enough or is there another reason for lack of a more white milky oil ?

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Terry, thanks for watching! So I'm guessing it's a runtime thing too. This thing was caught early. The customer took it in as soon as she noticed the car get hot. Maybe if it was run longer it would have looked worse? Not sure. I agree though, while not pretty clean oil, it didn't look as bad as some I've seen. Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@terryharvey4811]

@@GoTechTraining Yeah, most of the time it looks a lot like the gravy I put on my morning biscuit. Doesn't taste as good though.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hahahah I bet not! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@qwertyjeffers]

noticed i was losing coolant after my timing belt was replaced, no leaks.. ive read that it's just the coolant settling in the system. should I be worried? thxx

[@GoTechTraining]

If it keeps dropping after a few days I would definitely checking it out . But it can settle a bit if all the air wasn’t bled out the system ~Ryan

[@qwertyjeffers]

@@GoTechTraining that makes sense, that's kinda what my mechanic said today he mention there maybe some air pockets. thank you for your time.

[@J4rn0]

Oil cooler failure can also cause the same symptoms i think

[@MM-gi3qj]

Every 700 miles, the coolant in my 2015 Fusion Hybrid drops from MAX to MIN. I add coolant. The dealership pressure-tested it, saying it is holding pressure. No leaks underneath. The oil looks fine. I am baffled. What is the problem, or perhaps when cars age some coolant loss is normal? 49000 miles.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hello, Some coolant evaporation is normal, but not that amount. Have they tested your engine for a leaking head gasket or block. Your engine could be burning the coolant? ~Ryan

[@queensheeba1791]

700 miles??? I fill my car with coolant EVERY SINGLE DAY

[@giovannivanwyk9494]

Hi there my coolant drop from max to under min level after 3000km is this normal? How often should one change coolant im druv8ng a Gilf 6 GTI

[@Mike_44]

I recently replaced the radiator on my ‘19 Chrysler Pacifica. Afterwards, the coolant was boiling. I burped the system with the big funnel to get rid of the air, then it got better, no more boiling. I have no apparent overheating issues, temperature operates between 195-225, no oil in coolant or engine and there are no leaks. But the coolant after seating overnight sometimes rises and sometimes it’s low like 2”. And sometimes when taking the expansion cap off, it whooshes out air pressure and immediately the coolant drops.. but this doesn’t happen all the time. Why is the coolant level sometimes high, sometimes low?? What could this be?

[@raulcalderon9048]

Had this happen on a john deere motor for months. Everything was normal like you said. Used a block tester and cooling system pressure tester and everything worked fine. The problem was the thermostat’s bleeder hole was not at the 12 o’clock mark. So air could not bleed out. Thats for vertically mounted thermostats. The hole is at the highest point which is where air wants to go. You should check that out if u haven’t yet.

[@Mike_44]

@@raulcalderon9048 I n my case, the issue was the coolant expansion cap. Its O-rings were swollen and deformed, so it wasn’t holding pressure. Once I replaced the cap, the issue went away.

[@gregchapman7438]

How weird. I'm literally coming to my computer to look up a part for the cooling system leak with no visual signs. 2014 s550 coolant leak that is a very slow leak into the washer reservoir through the washer reservoir heater.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Greg, thanks for watching! Woah that sounds like a crazy place to leak. Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@ro-landocalrissian4633]

So the Toyota dealer messed up my radiator & put in a new one, but now the coolant in the reservoir is disappearing! Help!!!

[@GoTechTraining]

Hopefully it was just air stuck in the system. Mark the coolant jug with a permanent marker when it's cold and recheck when it's cold again in a few days. Hopefully it's not still leaking. ~Mike

[@jonathandebe3821]

What is the solution to this problem? Will this be Miss diagnosed as a blown motor?

[@GoTechTraining]

This car got a new water pump

[@robshaw3655]

anyone had lots of dry white spots and flecks all over the engine compartment that wipe off easily with coolant level dropped in reservoir? Bought a second hand car took on a long run, no over heating but found these spots....guess maybe radseal or something was added to the radiator before it was sold. Werent there when inspected vehicle..

[@RichardJohn-vf6rb]

I have a problem with my 2017 Ford mustang v6.

[@GoTechTraining]

That's brutal Richard! Good news, I bet the job is way easier in that car since the motor shouldn't need to come out being rear wheel drive

[@nickayivor8432]

What do you call KNOWLEDGEABLE and SUBSTANTIAL the answer is Go Tech Mike Becker Great information 👍 👌 👏 thank you very much for sharing what you know with us. Take care and have a great day Go Tech Mike Becker From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 21.20pm

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Nick, thanks a ton! I appreciate it! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@tylough]

Nissan V6 engines are the other common engine with a timing chain driven water pump.

[@GoTechTraining]

That's good to know. How are they? Fail often? Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@tylough]

I don't think they're as common to fail as the ford V6. They do have an external weep hole so coolant doesn't typically end up in the oil. Scotty Kilmer had a video about chain driven water pumps. Not a professional here, just an automotive enthusiast.

[@leor838]

Don't forget the GM 3.8 V6 that had a common intake manifold leak

[@vedinthorn]

Pretty sure this is my escapes problem. Is the fix going to cost me an arm and a leg?

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey, what engine is in your Escape? This waterpump job on the 3.5L Fusion required engine removal...big job that's pretty pricey. ~Mike

[@vedinthorn]

@@GoTechTraining unless I'm mistaken it's the 1.6l turbo engine. It's an SE model.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hmmm you thinking it's waterpump related? I know the 2.0L turbo has a big issue with coolant leaking into the cylinders...not sure about the 1.6L. Is the oil over full or milky colored? ~Mike

[@vedinthorn]

@@GoTechTraining hard to say from the once over I gave it. Looks overfull, but not massively. Looks dark more than anything since I'm due for an oil change any day now.

[@GoTechTraining]

How often are you refilling the coolant? Maybe start with a fresh oil change, monitor the level and the coolant level closely. that should give you a decent idea where it's going. ~Mike

[@wl6279]

Wow the water pump is tied up with the timing chain? Stay away from that car lol 😆

[@ismarmeskovic]

👍👍👍

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks Ismar! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@anthonynicholls8010]

✌️✌️

[@STECHGUY]

It went out your exhaust pipe because your head gasket is blown.

[@GoTechTraining]

Great guess, and very true in some cases..but not this time! ~Mike

[@STECHGUY]

@@GoTechTraining 🤣

[@PhillyDee215]

👉I GAVE A CUSTOMER A $3200 QUOTE ON HIS FORD 3.5L WATER PUMP AND HE WAS SHOCKED😳

[@GoTechTraining]

It's a big job for sure! The engine is out right now. I'm working on a timing video for it ;) Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@PhillyDee215]

@@GoTechTraining yeah customer went with the engine swap😏much cheaper for him

[@Rj-22]

Same issue I have and 2020 Prius prime and first mechanic saying heater core problem , then Toyota dealer those more ripper of money saying catyalack converter damage , now I’m going to see third without telling what two shit mechanic tell me definitely third one gonna say different issue , that’s prove how they rip the car owner money.

[@jdishmond35]

You didn’t help.

[@alrockman9817]

simple just dont buy a Ford, especially a diesel engine Ford, biggest load of crap, so many mechanics have also said ford diesel engines are bad