replacing coolant

[januwan]

I appreciate very good information regarding different coolant ... but can we concentrate on my problem , btw $14 difference every 30 K will not kill any body's budget.

I was looking for the leak but could not localize it (JDS60R thank you for the schematic) for sure. The coolant is dropping from the oil filter . I can also see coolant on the block around the area when the oil pan mates the block (when I look under intake manifold. There is not coolant around thermostat ( at least I do not see it) and no coolant under expansion tank. All hoses are dry. The level of coolant in the expansion tank dropped by 1/2 inch over night so it is not small.

I cannot understand how replacing coolant can create such a leak. Just looking at the schematic I would suspect water pump gasket or the gasket (#8) under the flange.

I never had any problem with cooling system on this car and never had to add any coolant. What the ..... happened. It suppose to be simply 1/2 hour project .

[JDS60R]

Ok - its time to find your leak. Right now it could be anything from a water pump to a cracked block. If you have a pressure tester or can rent one (Advance auto parts sometimes has it- bring a cap to make sure).

Pressure test the system and see where the water is coming from. If you can't get a pressure tester you can rig up your garden hose and some duct tape to your res. Turn on the hose with a friend holding it together and find the leak.

If its running over the oil filter I would suspect the thermostat housing. The water pump tends to drop it out of the bottom of the cam cover. Some of the after market replacement o rings for the thermostats are the wrong profile.

Please start uploading some pics of what you are seeing. It will help everyone help you - its also great for the next person who has the same leak.

[januwan]

I am so embarrassed. 99.9% failures in DIY jobs are operators errors, so was my case.
I did not install gasket on thermostat properly. I put it under. One of the write-up says “ install it on the edge of the thermostat not under or above thermostat because it will leak and members of the board will laugh at you. Here you have it, laugh I deserve it .

Actually it was JDS60R comment that if there is coolant on the oil filter he would suspect thermostat housing which prompted me it check the thermostat again. Not only the gasket was under thermostat but also it was not centered.

The moral of the story is do not be careless and "cocky" even if you fix odometer gears, replaced PCV system, replaced drive axle like I did. Read write up carefully it will save you time and headache. I wasted two days of this weekend worried about the car. I thought in the best case it was water pump gasket and in the worst case it’s a crack in the block.

Thanks again

[JDS60R]

Glad to hear you are fixed. You are not a real mechanic until you have made that mistake at least once. Welcome to the club.

For those who are trying to understand - the o ring doesn't go over or under the thermostat in his application. It has a slit on the inside so you can insert the thermostat into the o ring. See picture

Applications do exist where the o ring does go above or below. Check the thermostat you took out to see how the replacement works. Always replace the o ring.

[rspi]