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MacGyvers Mullet
06-04-2018, 07:49 PM
Short gist: drained and filled coolant system when replacing timing cover gasket and all heater/radiator hoses. Drove it many times and a few hundred miles to self burp and have been filling the overflow bottle to the proper point when needed.

I smelled a slight faint of coolant through the vents a few weeks ago. I thought either a heater core leak or just that some coolant made it's way into the heater box when changing the hoses and re-filling. I did fill up the core before installing the hoses, to lessen any air bubbles. I do believe some spilled over.

Just in case, I just did a coolant system pressure test to 15 PSI. FSE states that if it drops more than 2 PSI in two minutes, then check for leaks. It dropped only 1 full PSI at the 7:30 mark.

Is that 1 PSI drop after all that time to be expected on a leak free system, when working with a rental pressure tester?

Another note: The coolant system pressure will still hold (to a certain degree, of course) after days of the car sitting, with a small amount of pressure release when removing the cap. I would think on a system with even a minor leak, it wouldn't do that after days of sitting.

dave6666
06-04-2018, 07:55 PM
Did you install any new silicone hoses during your project?

Have you checked your oil for coolant?

MacGyvers Mullet
06-04-2018, 09:43 PM
Did you install any new silicone hoses during your project?

Have you checked your oil for coolant?

Yes, all new silicone hoses.

I have not drained the oil to check for coolant yet. The dipstick is at the same level as it's always been, with no traces of coolant on it. However, I am planning on draining the oil very soon, just to be 100% certain.

lmn
06-04-2018, 10:55 PM
Had the car cooled off completely when you began the test?

SNKEBIT
06-04-2018, 10:55 PM
How long did you leave the pressure on it? I've had some drop a little pressure, say a pound or two, and hold that overnite.

dave6666
06-05-2018, 05:17 AM
The smell is from the new silicone hoses. The coolant permeates the wall of the hoses and creates the slight odor. It will go away after a few months. You will also need to retorque all the hose clamps after a few months. The hoses will take a set.

MacGyvers Mullet
06-05-2018, 10:19 AM
Had the car cooled off completely when you began the test?

Yes


How long did you leave the pressure on it? I've had some drop a little pressure, say a pound or two, and hold that overnite.

About 10 minutes. Since the FSE said to worry if it dropped 2lbs or more under 2 minutes (and mine didn't), I took it off at 10 min.


The smell is from the new silicone hoses. The coolant permeates the wall of the hoses and creates the slight odor. It will go away after a few months. You will also need to retorque all the hose clamps after a few months. The hoses will take a set.

Oh yeah, I forgot that happens with new silicone hoses. I will give it more time and re-torque the clamps. Thanks for those reminders.