Coolant issues

[whitetiger]

Sorry to bring up this old thread, but I have the same issue on a ZD1211. I realize there's a reservoir cap recall but I've had that done and it's still using fluid. Anyone find the root cause?

Its almost always the hose clamps need snugged a bit or the radiator cap. When you test a cap, you need to leave the cap pressurized for several minutes. Typically, the upper hose on the thermostat housing is where they leak. look very carefully at the housing right below the hose and see if you find any discoloration or stain in the paint on the thermostat housing.

Do not put any "Snake oil miracle crap" in the cooling system, you'll just have a terrible time getting it flushed back out when it does not work.

 

[Daren Todd]

Its almost always the hose clamps need snugged a bit or the radiator cap. When you test a cap, you need to leave the cap pressurized for several minutes. Typically, the upper hose on the thermostat housing is where they leak. look very carefully at the housing right below the hose and see if you find any discoloration or stain in the paint on the thermostat housing.

Do not put any "Snake oil miracle crap" in the cooling system, you'll just have a terrible time getting it flushed back out when it does not work.

Every new piece of equipment that shows up in my yard gets the same treatment the first time I fuel it and start it. I run it up to operating temperature. Then give the clamps on the coolant lines another tweak.

Usually you can get another half a turn out of them. I've figured out over the years you cant get them fully tight till you heat them and get them to expand. And you'll always get that one slight drip if you dont.

It's cut my low coolant service calls on new equipment down to zero.

 

[Daren Todd]

Bars Leak Tablets may be a solution for very small leaks...

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These tablets are put into GM car radiators at the factory, and are available under the GM brand in a five pack...

Be careful with using a stop leak agent on newer equipment. Some of the newer thermostats have a small holes to allow some coolant to flow while the engine is cold. And when the thermostat opens, that small opening is part of the calculation for allowing fluid to circulate at a certain speed through the engine to allow for proper heat transfer and cooling.

Stop leak can plug that small opening in your thermostat if it has one. So you end up taking care of the small leak but then create a run hotter then normal, or over heating issue.

So then you end up having to drain and flush the system to remove the stop leak, before replacing the thermostat.