Coolant leak now what?

[Joliet Johnny]

Came home today and as most Jeep related problems I noticed a nice green drip under my XJ when I put the trash to the curb. Its hitting the fan and spraying the passenger side of the hood/engine. All the hoses look good. Water pump is old enough to suspect that. but here is what concerns me:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1636/24913404596_1243ae482e_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DXvHdy)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/DXvHdy) by John Welsh (https://www.flickr.com/photos/134420787@N02/), on Flickr

Since Im going to have to drain and bleed the coolant maybe a heater core should be done to? As you can see in the pic, lots of green. Im also changing all the hoses and the T-stat. Hopefully the radiator didnt die this time...

[XJ Wheeler]

The heater core is much more entailed so unless you have good proof of it needing replacememt, or just want to discover what the backside of your dash looks like, I'd hold off on it.

Sent via messenger pigeon. I talk, he types.

[slvmart]

Personally, it may be my old eyes, but I don't see all that much green. There appears to be some "copper patina" on the inlet or outlet of the heater core. Some of the heater cores still have a copper alloy pipe used for the inlet/outlet. Omix-Ada seems to be one of these.

To get to the point, this may not be a indication of a leak, as much as it might be of the materials used for the inlet/outlet, along with the age of the materials.

I agree with the sentiment that unless you are sure that you have a heater core leak, I wouldn't replace it. Usually, if the heater core is leaking, you will smell the sweet antifreeze smell inside the cabin. Plus you will likely be removing a lot of the dash in order to replace the core. Not a fun thing even given the mild weather we have been enjoying, for the most part.

If you change the hoses going to the inlet/outlet you should be able to gauge more accurately, if you might have a external leak.

[Cheromaniac]

What he said.
If the coolant is hitting the fan and being sprayed in the engine compartment, the source is more likely to be the radiator itself, the upper radiator hose, or the front section of one of the heater hoses where they attach to the thermostat housing and the water pump bypass.
Coolant leaking from the water pump will usually drip straight onto the ground below or just behind it.
You could also have a leak from one of the shorter hoses coming from the heater valve to the heater core.
With the engine running and up to temp., the cooling system will be pressurized and the source of the leak(s) shouldn't be hard to find.

[Carves]

Have a good look at the radiator in the vicinity of the inlet hose connection.

Header tank split / seam leak / loose hose clamp.

[Joliet Johnny]

Update. Upper radiator hose is toast, Radiator appears to be fine, water pump is also leaking. Im replacing the hoses, water pump and thermostat today. I think I'll do the rest of the cooling system this summer. Odd think I noticed was last time I had issues with the cooling system was when I joined the site in Feb 2011, so I guess I'll just service the cooling system every time I change the battery. Id rather replace good parts than get towed home. So far in in under $75 with creative use of Advance Auto coupon codes.

[Joliet Johnny]

Got off early tonight. Got everything back together and yet it still leaks. It's hard to see what is going on. Either the top of the water pump is leaking but maybe the head gasket is leaking? I suspect a slightly warped water pump or bad paper gasket. I won't be able to get to a parts store till Thursday. I've already eliminated the thermostat housing cause I keep a spare gasket laying around for that. Any ideas to check if it is that head gasket leaking from the corner? I know the telltale milkshake would apply here.

[slvmart]

See if you can get your hands on a Cooling System Pressure tester. I would think you should be able to rent one at your favorite parts store :
Amazon.com: Stant 12270 30 Pound Cooling System AndPressure Cap Tester: Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510qEmGue-L.@@AMEPARAM@@510qEmGue-L

You can test the cap and pressurize the cooling system. It makes it much easier to determine where the leak is coming from. Worse comes to worse, get some cooling system dye : Amazon.com: Genuine GM Fluid 12378563 Fluorescent Coolant System Tracer Dye - 1 oz.: Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41xgMAqBISL.@@AMEPARAM@@41xgMAqBISL

You may need a black light to check for the leak, with the dye.

[Joliet Johnny]

See if you can get your hands on a Cooling System Pressure tester. I would think you should be able to rent one at your favorite parts store :
Amazon.com: Stant 12270 30 Pound Cooling System AndPressure Cap Tester: Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/Stant-12270-Cooling-System-Pressure/dp/B0002SRGWU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1455532341&sr=8-3&keywords=coolant+pressure+tester)

You can test the cap and pressurize the cooling system. It makes it much easier to determine where the leak is coming from. Worse comes to worse, get some cooling system dye : Amazon.com: Genuine GM Fluid 12378563 Fluorescent Coolant System Tracer Dye - 1 oz.: Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-12378563-Fluorescent-Coolant-System/dp/B000QIJH2I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455532483&sr=8-2&keywords=coolant+system+dye)

You may need a black light to check for the leak, with the dye.

Hopefully changing away from the paper gasket fixes this. 1st realish snow this year and the Renegade got to play and XJ hid in the garage :( and XJ was blocking my Craftsman mower/plow so I got to hand shovel the driveway. I have 2 black light tubes for my florescent light, think that would work? If this thing ends up needing a head Im very strongly considering a 5.3 or diesel swap, selling Civic project car, Lancer and bike to buy a Patriot.

[slvmart]

Sounds like a lot of decisions. Life should be simpler. :boohoo:

On the other side of the lake from you, but we've been getting a few inches here. Probably about 6+ inches, right now. But as has been the trend this year, it should be gone and leave a sloppy mess by the end of the week.

I plow with the XJ and I've had to plow out my drive at least 4 times in the past 2 weeks.

I have to do a water pump as soon as I decide that I'm motivated to do it. Has been too cold out in the past couple of weeks. I don't heat the barn when it gets below 20.

p.s. As far as the black light, any black light should work, assuming that is the type of dye it is.

[Joliet Johnny]

Last time I had this problem I was left on the side of the road and it blew up the silly plastic tank on my radiator. Just glad I caught it dripping cause I usually enter and leave around the rear.

I was pretty sure a fluorescent black light tube would work, the dye isnt expensive so Ill add it after I change the suspected gasket. And plan B has changed to a Versa or a CRZ upon further research.

[Joliet Johnny]

Well its officially fixed now. Replaced gaskets with felpro for the thermostat housing and the water pump. I torqued the bolts to 20ish ft pounds. Now to tackle the mild oil leak or the slight power steering fluid leak...

[slvmart]

It's a good thing you didn't have to mess with the heater core ! :bacondance: