98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?
 

After a long trip in July over taking me from Ontario to Maryland -
discovering that Pennsylvania is uphill both ways - I noticed that my
coolant bottle was empty. No problem I thought and topped it up
again. I checked it for the next few days and the level seemed
stable.

Fast forward to last weekend when after putting my hard-top back on I
noticed a small puddle in the driveway of radiator fluid. Checking
the coolant bottle was empty again and there was radiator fluid in the
tray at the bottom of the rad. I checked as well as I could but could
not identify any leaks so I topped up again. After two days of
driving to work (333km round trip) all seems fine still. The TJ has
about 305,000km on it right now and I haven't replaced anything in the
cooling system (yet).

Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I'm thinking perhaps my radiator
cap might be weak but before I take it to the garage I thought I'd
check to see what I should be asking them to check.

Thanks

Andrew Butchart
andrew@floatingbear.ca

Re: 98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?
 

Hi Andrew,
Your cap sealed well enough to suck coolant from your reservoir, so
you have a leak. A radiator shop may put it under pressure to find the
leak. In the future change the coolant every two years and the radiator
and pump will last at least eight years.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Andrew Butchart wrote:
>
> After a long trip in July over taking me from Ontario to Maryland -
> discovering that Pennsylvania is uphill both ways - I noticed that my
> coolant bottle was empty. No problem I thought and topped it up
> again. I checked it for the next few days and the level seemed
> stable.
>
> Fast forward to last weekend when after putting my hard-top back on I
> noticed a small puddle in the driveway of radiator fluid. Checking
> the coolant bottle was empty again and there was radiator fluid in the
> tray at the bottom of the rad. I checked as well as I could but could
> not identify any leaks so I topped up again. After two days of
> driving to work (333km round trip) all seems fine still. The TJ has
> about 305,000km on it right now and I haven't replaced anything in the
> cooling system (yet).
>
> Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I'm thinking perhaps my radiator
> cap might be weak but before I take it to the garage I thought I'd
> check to see what I should be asking them to check.
>
> Thanks
>
> Andrew Butchart
> andrew@floatingbear.ca

Re: 98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?
 

Hi Andrew,
Your cap sealed well enough to suck coolant from your reservoir, so
you have a leak. A radiator shop may put it under pressure to find the
leak. In the future change the coolant every two years and the radiator
and pump will last at least eight years.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Andrew Butchart wrote:
>
> After a long trip in July over taking me from Ontario to Maryland -
> discovering that Pennsylvania is uphill both ways - I noticed that my
> coolant bottle was empty. No problem I thought and topped it up
> again. I checked it for the next few days and the level seemed
> stable.
>
> Fast forward to last weekend when after putting my hard-top back on I
> noticed a small puddle in the driveway of radiator fluid. Checking
> the coolant bottle was empty again and there was radiator fluid in the
> tray at the bottom of the rad. I checked as well as I could but could
> not identify any leaks so I topped up again. After two days of
> driving to work (333km round trip) all seems fine still. The TJ has
> about 305,000km on it right now and I haven't replaced anything in the
> cooling system (yet).
>
> Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I'm thinking perhaps my radiator
> cap might be weak but before I take it to the garage I thought I'd
> check to see what I should be asking them to check.
>
> Thanks
>
> Andrew Butchart
> andrew@floatingbear.ca

Re: 98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?
 

Hi Andrew,
Your cap sealed well enough to suck coolant from your reservoir, so
you have a leak. A radiator shop may put it under pressure to find the
leak. In the future change the coolant every two years and the radiator
and pump will last at least eight years.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Andrew Butchart wrote:
>
> After a long trip in July over taking me from Ontario to Maryland -
> discovering that Pennsylvania is uphill both ways - I noticed that my
> coolant bottle was empty. No problem I thought and topped it up
> again. I checked it for the next few days and the level seemed
> stable.
>
> Fast forward to last weekend when after putting my hard-top back on I
> noticed a small puddle in the driveway of radiator fluid. Checking
> the coolant bottle was empty again and there was radiator fluid in the
> tray at the bottom of the rad. I checked as well as I could but could
> not identify any leaks so I topped up again. After two days of
> driving to work (333km round trip) all seems fine still. The TJ has
> about 305,000km on it right now and I haven't replaced anything in the
> cooling system (yet).
>
> Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I'm thinking perhaps my radiator
> cap might be weak but before I take it to the garage I thought I'd
> check to see what I should be asking them to check.
>
> Thanks
>
> Andrew Butchart
> andrew@floatingbear.ca

Re: 98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?
 

Andrew Butchart did pass the time by typing:

> Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I'm thinking perhaps my radiator
> cap might be weak but before I take it to the garage I thought I'd
> check to see what I should be asking them to check.

Check your hoses for cracks (including the heater hoses) and the weep hole
on the water pumps output. You might have a "teeny" little leak in a hose
that's pissing on the radiator when you stop.

If any hoses are cracked or bulging(soft) then replace them.

--
DougW

Re: 98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?
 

Andrew Butchart did pass the time by typing:

> Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I'm thinking perhaps my radiator
> cap might be weak but before I take it to the garage I thought I'd
> check to see what I should be asking them to check.

Check your hoses for cracks (including the heater hoses) and the weep hole
on the water pumps output. You might have a "teeny" little leak in a hose
that's pissing on the radiator when you stop.

If any hoses are cracked or bulging(soft) then replace them.

--
DougW

Re: 98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?
 

Andrew Butchart did pass the time by typing:

> Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I'm thinking perhaps my radiator
> cap might be weak but before I take it to the garage I thought I'd
> check to see what I should be asking them to check.

Check your hoses for cracks (including the heater hoses) and the weep hole
on the water pumps output. You might have a "teeny" little leak in a hose
that's pissing on the radiator when you stop.

If any hoses are cracked or bulging(soft) then replace them.

--
DougW

Re: 98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?
 

"DougW" <post.replies@invalid.address> wrote in message news:<1bL%c.6965$OZ6.1651@okepread06>...
> Andrew Butchart did pass the time by typing:
>
> > Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I'm thinking perhaps my radiator
> > cap might be weak but before I take it to the garage I thought I'd
> > check to see what I should be asking them to check.
>
> Check your hoses for cracks (including the heater hoses) and the weep hole
> on the water pumps output. You might have a "teeny" little leak in a hose
> that's pissing on the radiator when you stop.
>
> If any hoses are cracked or bulging(soft) then replace them.

Thanks for the input - I've got an appointment with my local mechanic
to check it over on Monday. No sense taking chances.

Andrew B

Re: 98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?
 

"DougW" <post.replies@invalid.address> wrote in message news:<1bL%c.6965$OZ6.1651@okepread06>...
> Andrew Butchart did pass the time by typing:
>
> > Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I'm thinking perhaps my radiator
> > cap might be weak but before I take it to the garage I thought I'd
> > check to see what I should be asking them to check.
>
> Check your hoses for cracks (including the heater hoses) and the weep hole
> on the water pumps output. You might have a "teeny" little leak in a hose
> that's pissing on the radiator when you stop.
>
> If any hoses are cracked or bulging(soft) then replace them.

Thanks for the input - I've got an appointment with my local mechanic
to check it over on Monday. No sense taking chances.

Andrew B

Re: 98 TJ - Antifreeze Leak?
 

"DougW" <post.replies@invalid.address> wrote in message news:<1bL%c.6965$OZ6.1651@okepread06>...
> Andrew Butchart did pass the time by typing:
>
> > Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I'm thinking perhaps my radiator
> > cap might be weak but before I take it to the garage I thought I'd
> > check to see what I should be asking them to check.
>
> Check your hoses for cracks (including the heater hoses) and the weep hole
> on the water pumps output. You might have a "teeny" little leak in a hose
> that's pissing on the radiator when you stop.
>
> If any hoses are cracked or bulging(soft) then replace them.

Thanks for the input - I've got an appointment with my local mechanic
to check it over on Monday. No sense taking chances.

Andrew B