2001 Acura Integra leaking coolant

Tiny
JAPOSTOL78
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 ACURA INTEGRA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 130,000 MILES
So I noticed last few times I worked on my car that coolant was leaking from the back of the motor. It seems to be coming from the side of the motor where the thermostat housing is at. The car does not overheat and my temp gauge reads normal. Not sure what it could be.I actualy swapped thermostat housings to see if thats the case. But its not. Any ideas?
Sunday, September 14th, 2008 AT 3:23 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi japostol78,

Apart from the thermostat housing, you should check the pipe to the water pump and heater hoses.

Remember to check your radiator coolant level regularly.
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Sunday, September 14th, 2008 AT 7:23 AM
Tiny
REV SCORPION
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Most auto parts stores will rent the tool needed to pressurize the cooling system so that you can locate the problem.
There are about 6 hoses back there that are common to split or leak.
Pay particular attention to the hose coming off the side of the head, directly under the distributor. It is prone to oil contamination and leakage.
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Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 AT 11:55 AM
Tiny
BUSSIE
  • MEMBER
  • 42 POSTS
My engine like drink prestone.I need to refill all week. No leak. It is normal?
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Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 AT 1:00 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
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A good working cooling system does not require regular topping up of coolant. If it does, something is wrong.

If the reserve tank is drying up, there must be a leakage somewhere, unless you are overfiling and excess coolant is being push out of reserve tank giving the wrong impression coolant is depleting.

If the reserve tank is not drying up and instead overflowing and the radiator side is depleting, it could be a bad head gasket or radiator cap.
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Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 AT 7:32 AM
Tiny
BUSSIE
  • MEMBER
  • 42 POSTS
My old driver drinking a gallon of Prestone per 2 weeks. Prestone goes in the engine, the radiator and the tank was always empty. When I stop the engine, I heard the sound of a water pipe suck noise (marijuana bong water). When I opened the cap, even in cold weather, there was pressure of air get out of the radiator like a Cola bottle. I do the leak test. No leak, gasket terminated.

Now I put a new engine, with a new radiator and new hoses. Only the reserve tank was empty.I have prestone in the radiator. No water pipe suck noise(marijana bong). No air presure in the radiator when I open the cap.
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Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 AT 11:46 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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If the engine had just been newly installed, there could be air trapped in the system and this is causing the reserve tank to dry up.

Minimal air trapped would not caused overheating and it would self bleed and problem would be resolved.

How much coolant do you need to refill each time and how long does it take to incur that amont of losses?

Quite often minimalcoolant leakages at the heater core is not easily noted.
During the pressure test, pressure did not drop?
Is the radiator cap new or from the previous radiator?
Did you check the hose from radiator filler neck to reservre tank for leakages?
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Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 AT 12:23 PM
Tiny
BUSSIE
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I probaly got the air trapped in the system, the prestone leak was stoped. It Is normal to get those air trapped in the system after changing the radiator?
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Friday, June 5th, 2009 AT 12:08 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Yes, after repairs of cooling system, bleeding has to be done to remove the air in the system.

Glad to know you have solved your problem.

Have a nice day.
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Friday, June 5th, 2009 AT 7:55 AM
Tiny
BUSSIE
  • MEMBER
  • 42 POSTS
What will happen if I do not remove air from the system?
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Sunday, June 7th, 2009 AT 7:12 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Different amount of air in system has different results.

Let us put it into volumes to make it easier to understand.

1 liter or more of air.
Engine would overheat and steam would be pouring into reserve tank. Prolonged use would cause damage to head and gasket.

1/2 to 1 liter of air
Overheating might occur when driving in traffic.
Temperature would go down when moving at moderate speed. High speed driving would cause temperature to go up.

For both above situation, steam would be at top part of radiator and the top tank would fail prematurely as steam is beyond boling point of water/coolant.

Less than 1/2 liters.
Overheating might not be noticeable but temp gauge might fluctuate slightly at times. Self bleeding can occur over a few run and stop situation and air would be bled out resulting in the reserve tank running low.
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Monday, June 8th, 2009 AT 9:49 AM

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