anti-freeze loss, compression test : 1995 850

AlanS · Post by **AlanS** » 11 Jan 2010, 06:41

So, 1995 850-non turbo wagon, 170,000 miles. I have been smelling anti freeze when the heat is on. Heater core is changed, junction box-changed, all hoses- changed...still smell it, and the resevoir tank is losing anti-freeze...about an inch over two-three weeks of daily driving.
I did a compression test...fearing some disaster. The following were my results (two trys on each cylinder- first # is the first try, second is second):
#1:130, 127,
#2: 135, 127,
#3:127, 127,
#4: 127, 122,
#5: 130, 123
I guess things look good compression wise, right? How do I find an anti-freeze leak when there is nothing obvious? I pulled the rugs again,,,nothing. Only when the heat is on.

Post by **jblackburn** » 11 Jan 2010, 07:43

The compression numbers are a bit low, but consistent throughout the cylinders, so it looks like your head gasket is in good shape.

You can pressure test the cooling system itself to see if there are any leaks that happen under pressure. I believe most auto parts stores have a device for this, but you'll need to ask someone knowledgeable.

At the moment, I have a small leak from the bottom of my radiator...again, either the hose or the tank at the bottom is cracked, but it's at such a slow rate that I haven't tracked it down. I only notice a couple drips of antifreeze after my car has been sitting overnight. Grab a flashlight & look for anything collecting at the bottom of the splash shield.

Sometimes the expansion tanks themselves leak, or the water pump has a weep hole that will spray out water when it starts to go (you can take off the timing cover to have a look). My best advice would be to let it idle in one spot for a few minutes and see if you notice anything leaking.

Do you still smell the antifreeze if you start the heater in recirculate mode & don't change it? I blew a heater hose (twice) in my Honda, spraying antifreeze everywhere, and the thing smelled like hot syrup for 2 months before it all burned off. If you had a leaky heater core, the residual smell in the piping can take a while to go away. Did you replace the O-rings when you changed it?

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 11 Jan 2010, 09:31

Compress is definitely low. It should be around 170 or so. My turbo 850 that I sold was around 160.

Anyway, like was already mentioned, you should pressurize the system and see if you have any leaks anywhere. It could be leaking from anywhere TBH.

Post by **wheelsup** » 11 Jan 2010, 14:42

A non turbo should be at least in the 180's I would think, but they are consistent. Compression tests should be done right after driving the car for 10-15 minutes so it's hot, and with the pedal held to the floor while cranking. I crank for 6-10 rotations for each cylinder, personally.

I too am losing coolant slowly and cannot figure out where. My mechanic said he pressurized the cooling system and the radiator is leaking yet THERE IS NO RESIDUE or drops at all. I can't find it.

I posted on bob is the oil guy about my oil analysis and someone wrote this:

I know where your slight coolant leak is. I can almost see it in the picture. It's your heater line passthroughs. IPD sells seal kits, or they used to.

Not sure where that is exactly but it gives you something to look at.

joemay · Post by **joemay** » 11 Jan 2010, 17:40

When the car is warm and running carefully remove coolant cap from reservoir. Look for bubbles. Got bubbles? got troubles .headgasket

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 11 Jan 2010, 19:29

My gut says a blown heater core. Does the car fog up on the interior windows?

...Lee

Post by **LamboSE5** » 24 Apr 2011, 10:03

joemay wrote:When the car is warm and running carefully remove coolant cap from reservoir. Look for bubbles. Got bubbles? got troubles .headgasket

-When you guys say look for "bubbles" in the coolant, what exactly are we talking? Large bubbles? -that rise to the top and burst? small, tiny bubbles? looks like it's boiling (rippling the surface)?

I ask because I tried to look for this effect. The small line that recirculates the cool/returns it to the expansion tank in my '98 S70 creates little tiny bubbles as it mixes/hits the still surface of the coolant already present in the expansion tank.
So I had no idea what I was looking for at that point...

Ozark Lee wrote:My gut says a blown heater core. Does the car fog up on the interior windows?

I read this before, and thought "I could only be so lucky", because my int. windows do fog up...and I (others mostly) smell coolant in the car when driving, sometimes oil/fuel maybe too.
I'm slightly confused with it all cause so many symptoms, and related problems; headgasket, oil leak, coolant leak etc..

Post by **JDS60R** » 24 Apr 2011, 10:09

Buy a leak detection dye and light. You will find the leak.

O rings on the heater core line are known to leak .

Sounds like you need a new compression gauge as well

Johnny78Blaze · Post by **Johnny78Blaze** » 22 Nov 2011, 17:16

Actually sounds like a bad water pump to me. I've had similar problems in the past and it led to the water pump. Usually a pretty easy fix if you have the time and the money to spring for a new one. I know this is an old post but I just thought I'd throw my two cents in. Wonder how it was all resolved anyway.

Edit: It's always a gamble but getting one at a junkyard could save you a few bucks. I try to get most of my parts from an EZ Pull junkyard where I pull the parts myself. You can get some parts that are like new depending on the condition of the vehicle, etc.

Johnny78Blaze · Post by **Johnny78Blaze** » 23 Nov 2011, 16:14

I received similar numbers on my compression test today and my numbers were only low when I used a long extension adapter. My numbers were in the high 160's and 170's with the regular small adapter. Don't know if this helps at all. Just sharing my experience.