coolant loss

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  • wsulli
    Senior Member
    • Nov 2013
    • 13

    coolant loss

    After winterizing my a-4 I left the thermostat housing off and added a little anti freeze to completely fill the head. About 3-4 weeks later I noticed it is gone added more about 16 oz. Last week down 1/8 inch, today down a 1/4 inch. This is measured from the top of the mounting surface for the t-stat. This does not seem normal to me any ideas, I do not know the oil level when I started only that it was changed in July and not run since, except to winterize.
  • hanleyclifford
    Afourian MVP
    • Mar 2010
    • 6990

    #2
    There may be air pockets in the system that are slowly surfacing while the engine sits, but just to be sure make a measurement on your oil dipstick and compare after a week or so.

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    • Easy Rider
      Afourian MVP
      • Feb 2007
      • 140

      #3
      It might be taking awhile for air in the cooling jackets to work it's way out displacing the antifreeze causing the level to drop. If so, you should reach a point where no more antifreeze will need to be added and it should stay full. If in doubt, you could try looking or feeling under the water pump area or in the bilge for signs of it leaking out somewhere. Good luck
      Chuck

      71 Ranger 29

      Comment

      • vabiker23518
        Senior Member
        • Feb 2007
        • 78

        #4
        I had a similar issue as I was warming up my engine prior to winterizing last month. Had good batching out of exhaust gas/water but the engine ran to 200 in just a few minutes. I shut it down and checked the raw water intake as I've had issues before with crud reducing water flow but no issues this time. I then checked the anti-freeze level and it was down almost a gallon! Not sure where it went. Not into the oil thankfully, as the level was correct and when I drained it off it was normal. So, I'm hoping it was same as Easy Rider and Hanley said. Will check it closely this spring.

        Comment

        • 67c&ccorv
          Afourian MVP
          • Dec 2008
          • 1559

          #5
          I would remove the water jacket drain plug behind the alternator and pour until anti-freeze runs out the hole...then put the plug back in.

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