How could this happen? Can someone explain this? | FerrariChat
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How could this happen? Can someone explain this?

Discussion in '348/355' started by hjp, Feb 27, 2016.

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  1. hjp

    hjp Formula Junior

    Feb 23, 2013
    591
    Kansas City, Mo.
    Full Name:
    Jerry Peterson
    #1 hjp, Feb 27, 2016
    The other day, a warm one for this time of year, I had driven the car all day on a variety of errands. Drove home and parked it in an unheated garage. After that, the weather got very cold for several days, lows in the teens. After a couple of days I noticed s small amount antifreeze coming from under the car. Not much, there was perhaps 3 tablespoons worth. It appeared to come from the front of the engine. The first thing I did was check the antifreeze. It tested good to more than 30 below so I know that wasn't a problem. I had removed my overflow tank last year so I checked out the 4 hoses connecting to it. None were leaking and, with the tank pulled up, nothing I could see under it or in front of the engine were leaking either. So I started the car and looked for more leaks. There were none....nada....nothing anywhere?!?! I let it idle until it was fully warmed up. After the temp gauge for both the oil and water were at normal and with the heater on full, this led me to believe water was circulating in all the lines. Both fans were running and holding the temps at normal too. As far as I could tell, everything was normal. No leaks?!?!

    I repeated this 3 more time on different days and still no, leaks. Today it was 70 degrees so I took the car out for about a 30 minute drive after another idle like before (no leaks from this idle). Wound it up near red line a couple of times in first and second during the drive and finally drove back home. I had stopped once half way through the drive to look under the car for any sign of a leak. None. After I got home I checked again. No leaks. Antifreeze level in the tank had not changed either.

    How could this be? What could have dumped about 3 tablespoons of antifreeze on the ground after some very cold weather with the car parked in the garage and then completely stop, no more leaks, everything now seeming to be perfectly normal?

    Even if I was mistaken at where I thought the leak was coming from and it came from the overflow tank vent tube, since the system was not overfilled, why would that have happened since there has never been a time the car has ever gotten past normal operating temperature?

    I'm stumped. I have no explanation for this (but I'm grateful there are no leaks.... at least for now).

    Anyone have any insight or an explanation?
     
  2. m.stojanovic

    m.stojanovic F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 22, 2011
    3,296
    Serbia - Niš
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    Miroljub Stojanovic
    #2 m.stojanovic, Feb 27, 2016
    A likely possibility is that the system was slightly overfrilled (perhaps you topped-up the "shrunk" coolant in cold weather) prior to your first drive the whole day and that, soon after you parked, the engine heat soak caused a bit of excess coolant to be pushed out. Keep checking for some time and, if there are no further leaks and the level is constant, everything is fine.
     
  3. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    Dec 1, 2004
    7,787
    Redondo Beach, CA
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    Bruce Bogart
    #3 plugzit, Feb 27, 2016
    The water pump seal contracted at typical KC winter temperature and let a few drops out. No biggie but keep an eye on it. Replace at next major.
     
  4. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    #4 ///Mike, Feb 27, 2016
    Pressure test the cooling system. That'll tell you everything you need to know. If there are no leaks then there's a good chance Bruce is right.
     
  5. blue90

    blue90 Formula Junior

    Dec 15, 2013
    339
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #5 blue90, Feb 27, 2016
    Make sure to check right under the manifold. Every time it gets cold then warm the big hose clamps seem to back off and dump a bit of fluid on my car in that big Allen plug area. Once warm you tighten and it's fine again. Second the water pump but to be clear fluid under manifold drips right down water pump and looks same.
     
  6. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 26, 2012
    3,821
    Tinton Falls, NJ
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    Bob Ferraris
    #6 drbob101, Feb 28, 2016
    This ^^^^
     
  7. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,272
    CT
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    John Kreskovsky
    #7 johnk..., Feb 28, 2016
    If it isn't leaking after you park it hot, it's already been pressure tested. Most likely a hose that broke its seal due to cold, expansion/contraction, hard rubber..... I experienced the same thing the first winter I owned my car; a small leak dripping off the under tray at the front of the engine. Did that all winter. Next spring when I got the car out and got it hot it stopped and has never lost a drop since.
     
  8. FCOnyx

    FCOnyx Formula Junior
    Owner

    May 28, 2012
    413
    Round Rock, TX
    Full Name:
    Jeff
    #8 FCOnyx, Feb 28, 2016
    My '98 355 always dribbles a few drops of coolant anytime the temp (rarely) drops below 30 here in TX. It's the only time it ever does it. My shop checked everything out during service for another issue, tightened clamps, pressure tested, etc and came to the same conclusion as Bruce. Nothing to lose sleep over, keep an eye on it and take care of the water pump at the next major.
     
  9. hjp

    hjp Formula Junior

    Feb 23, 2013
    591
    Kansas City, Mo.
    Full Name:
    Jerry Peterson
    #9 hjp, Feb 28, 2016
    Thanks guys. I think that explains it. I feel much better now. I will keep my eye on it though and definitely replace anything questionable at the next engine out.
     

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