So I've got an 08 SM610 that seems to be leaking coolant. I did a valve adjustment about 500 miles ago so naturally I had to remove and refill the radiators. Things have been fine until last night when I noticed that there was coolant all over the right side of the cylinder head. I've looked all over the place and I can't find where it's coming from. At first it happened on a streak of hot days about a month ago so I thought it was some over heating issue. It went away for a month and then I notice it again this morning but it was cold out today. I can't seem to find any rhyme or reason to this thing! The right radiator is full and there is coolant in the reservoir... I'm clueless, any ideas?
small crack in a rad?? very small split in a hose from working it around? Those can be buggers to find..
Grrrr, hoping it's just a hose somewhere. I just thought that if it was an actual crack or hole somewhere then it would leak all the time, but these two or three instances are literally a month apart WTF
There should be green coolant residue from the source, look under the edges of the hose ends. Sometimes new hose clamps alone are not enough, have to reposition, maybe wipe down the fitting, slide the hose clamp to a new position, and/or make sure the clamp is square on the hose.
OK... so I've noticed that the oil sight glass is milky. The oil seems to be normal colored but the glass itself is milky. I've been told that this could be an internal leak or water in the oil Any experience with this?
That's exactly what I'm wondering! The other thing I've been told is that it could be a water pump seal... but all of the leaking I'm seeing is on the right side of the motor, the water pump is on the left... i'm totally lost
That's tonight... I'll give pics and updates (and more questions) as soon as I can. Just so I know... if I've got water or coolant in the oil, the oil itself should be milky right? not just the sight glass with condensation... thanks for the help!!
If your oil is good I would clean the engine and other areas and then coat it with baby powder and see if you can pinpoint the leak. As far as head gasket goes I would just assume that if there is water in the oil and rad fluid also leaking it would most likely come from a head gasket or base gasket.....But I could be wrong as it happens often
I would start with the easy stuff first just take the gas tank off, inspect the rads,hoses also if have a friend with a shop you can get the coolant system pressurized(leak down test) and look for external leak. Like Rockchucker22 said if you drain your oil and it is not milky you are fine.
