5 Reasons Your Coolant Is Low But There’s No Visible Leak
Internal combustion engines use energy generated by small, controlled explosions to turn the wheels. These explosions generate a lot of heat, and this waste heat must be directed away from the engine block. If the engine block gets too hot, materials inside the engine can warp, crack, or melt.
Antifreeze is a liquid additive that lowers the freezing point and raises the boiling point of water, allowing the cooling system to function smoothly even with large fluctuations in ambient temperatures.
Using antifreeze also reduces the risk of water in the engine freezing and rendering the engine inoperable. Most engines require a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. Signs of coolant loss
Coolant tank is low
If your coolant tank is empty or if the coolant level continues to drop even after you’ve refilled it, consider your vehicle losing coolant. Check your coolant level regularly and top off coolant as needed until you find and fix the cause of the leak.
White smoke coming from the exhaust
Another symptom of coolant loss can be white smoke coming from the exhaust. When coolant leaks into the combustion chamber, it burns as white smoke. Look out for excessive white smoke coming from the exhaust, especially when you first start your car or when accelerating.
Abnormal Engine Performance
If your engine is running hotter than normal or you have noticed a sudden drop in fuel efficiency, both could be signs of coolant loss. Pay attention to any changes in your engine’s behavior as they may help you troubleshoot the problem.
Please note that while the symptoms above may indicate a loss of coolant, they could also be symptoms of other issues with your vehicle. Having enough coolant in your engine is very important for your engine’s operation, so it is important to pinpoint the cause of these signs. Failure to do so could result in serious damage to your engine.
Causes of coolant loss when there is no visible leak
If your coolant tank is empty, you may be gradually losing coolant. If you suspect a coolant leak, it is important to check your coolant reservoir and radiator. Never open a pressurized radiator or container while your car is hot. Wait until your car has cooled before adding coolant.
1) Faulty radiator cap
A faulty radiator cap may not seal properly, allowing coolant to leak past the seal and evaporate. Check for steam near the radiator cap and also check if the overflow tank is pressurized.
2) Blown Head Gasket
The cylinder head gaskets sit between the cylinder head and the engine block. Their job is to keep the combustion gases in the combustion chamber and the coolant in the water jacket.
If the head gasket develops a leak, coolant can get into the combustion chamber and be burned and expelled through the exhaust. If you have a leak in your head gasket, you probably won’t notice coolant leaking onto your floor. Common symptoms include overheating and white smoke from the exhaust
3) Burnt Intake Manifold Gasket
Some intake manifolds have a water jacket. If the water jacket on these intake manifolds leaks into the intake, coolant will be drawn into the combustion chamber. The resulting symptoms are similar to a blown head gasket.
4) Leaking turbo seal
Most turbos are cooled by engine coolant. If coolant leaks past the turbo seal into the turbo, that coolant is lost through the exhaust.
5) Evaporation
Even if you don’t see a leak at the bottom, there could be a small pinhole leak in one of the hose connections. If the cooling system isn’t completely airtight, some of the coolant can slowly evaporate over time. In some cases, a slow leak may actually occur, causing coolant to leak out of the cooling system in liquid form. In this case, you may see a white streak near the source of the leak.
Does coolant evaporate? Yes, water in coolant can evaporate, but only if the leak does not completely seal the system. Because leaks occur very slowly, it can be difficult to find the cause. As long as the coolant loss occurs very slowly (a few drops a month), there is often no need to worry immediately. Keep an eye on the situation to prevent the leak from getting worse. If you have coolant dripping onto the floor, you will need a proper repair.
Why is my car losing coolant but not overheating?
If you are just driving normally, your car can lose a lot of coolant before you notice the needle on the temperature gauge moving. As long as there is enough coolant to properly cool the engine, you may not even notice a problem.
Too little coolant can damage your engine, even if the temperature gauge looks normal. Too little coolant can cause air pockets to form in the engine that the temperature sensor cannot detect.
This air pocket creates a hot spot if there is not enough coolant to cool the metal in that area. The hot spot can cause the material to weaken, warp, or crack. It is very important to refill the cooling system as soon as you notice a loss of coolant.
If your engine overheats, you risk causing very expensive engine damage. They can quickly warp the head or damage the block, both of which require invasive (and expensive) engine work to repair.
Many temperature readings only become off-center when the temperature is already too high. If you see the needle moving in the “H” direction, move it to the right immediately (as soon as it is safe to do so). The faster you can cool the car, the less chance of engine damage.
This will prevent coolant loss
1) UV Leak Detection Kit
If you have a leak in your cooling system, the first thing you need to do is find the source of the leak. After these dyes have circulated through the cooling system, shine a black light bulb into the engine compartment. This is an easy way to determine if your cooling system is leaking to the outside.
2) Leak Test
Leak testing is an effective way to determine if there is a leak inside the cooling system and where the leak is located. The leak test involves connecting compressed air to each cylinder during the compression stroke and measuring the amount of air leaving the combustion chamber. Even if you notice a small amount of leakage in a healthy engine, excessive leakage in one or more cylinders indicates a mechanical problem.
3) Radiator Pressure Test
A radiator pressure test helps detect small leaks by bringing the cooling system to or just below operating pressure. When performing a pressure test, be careful not to overpressurize the cooling system. For example, a system designed for 15 psi may not be able to withstand 35 psi without damaging something important.
Don’t ignore coolant leaks.
Regardless of the reason for the loss of coolant, it is essential to find and fix the root cause. Coolant plays a vital role in regulating engine temperatures, and a coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat, leading to expensive engine damage and even complete engine failure. If you don’t know how to fix the loss of coolant, take your vehicle to a trusted mechanic or dealership service shop as soon as possible.
