Odd Small Coolant Leak

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Odd Small Coolant Leak
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Sunday, June 08, 2014 - 10:57 am:

Hello, I've noticed a small, odd coolant leak on my 1924 touring / pickup conversion.

The car doesn't leak while driving, or for a day or two after a drive, but if it sits for two or more days I see a drop or two of coolant a day on the catch pan under the car. It's hard to tell where it's coming from, because it's such a small leak and the coolant travels before it drips to the ground.

Is this unusual? Should I be concerned? I run a stock high head and have checked all the head bolts and they are tight (55 foot-lbs).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Hjortnaes, Men Falls, WI on Sunday, June 08, 2014 - 11:08 am:

It is just like a leak in a roof. It can travel for many feet before it drips down. Might just be coming from your radiator hose.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Sunday, June 08, 2014 - 11:23 am:

Front/back, left/right?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Sunday, June 08, 2014 - 11:31 am:

Passenger side, the drips fall on the ground just below the rear engine mount ear. I originally thought that it might be an oozing freeze plug, but a closer look revealed them all to be dry.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Sunday, June 08, 2014 - 11:38 am:

Probably head gasket, or a head bolt.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Sunday, June 08, 2014 - 11:53 am:

Could be the area around the steam hole. That area seems to like to go bad. If it's just a weep drip, me I would live with it till the next time the head is off.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Sunday, June 08, 2014 - 12:02 pm:

That's my current plan. I'm on the waiting list for one of the cast iron Prus heads when Kevin runs off a new batch. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Sunday, June 08, 2014 - 12:02 pm:

I agree with Mark. Given the magnitude of it, I'd just leave it alone and watch things. I would check your oil to be sure it's not getting into the crankcase (in case it is the head gasket).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells on Sunday, June 08, 2014 - 12:22 pm:

Mine used to do that a bit from the coolant outlet, only while cooling down. Sometimes those leaks go away once the crud and rust fills it in. Keep on driving.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Monday, June 09, 2014 - 11:46 am:

I found the solution - I put a folded up paper towel under the spot where it drips off a few days ago, and it hasn't leaked a drop since - go figure! :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike_black on Monday, June 09, 2014 - 01:18 pm:

T's can leak water from almost anywhere. Over the last 100 or so years lots of strange things were done to keep them alive. I've got one engine that I've had for about 15 years that was rebuilt by an outstanding T guy. It has a Model A crank, balanced, etc. Last winter it started dripping antifreeze from near the starter! I began to scrape and pick all along what I'd always thought was a casting mark at the top of the crease between the rear 2 cylinders and found a hole in the block that had been JB Weld'd. Probably froze long ago and was repaired. I repaired it again with JB Weld and it seems to be doing fine. If it's like a head I've got on another T, it'll last about 10 years then need to be fixed again. This is the first block I've repaired, but, I may have more that were nicely done and painted and I won't even know about them until they start to leak!


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration