Endeavour Coolant Loss

I'm having a head-scratcher with my 2006 Ford Endeavour (gasoline engine). The check engine light keeps popping up, and the code reader says it's low coolant. I've checked the coolant reservoir, and it's consistently low. I've topped it off a couple of times, but the light keeps returning after a few days. I've visually inspected the radiator hoses and around the coolant reservoir for any obvious leaks, but haven't spotted anything. Any ideas what else I should be checking? Could it be something with the cooling fan or perhaps a coolant leak somewhere?

4 comment(s)

That's definitely concerning. If you're losing coolant and not seeing any external leaks, it could be a sign of something internal, though let's hope not! Have you checked the oil lately? A blown head gasket could allow coolant to seep into the oil, making it look milky or frothy. Also, have you noticed any sweet smell, especially after the engine has been running? That could indicate a small coolant leak somewhere, maybe even on the radiator itself that evaporates quickly before you can see it. Another possibility is the water pump; they sometimes leak from the weep hole before failing completely. Is the engine temperature running hotter than usual?

Thanks for the detailed suggestions! I checked the oil, and thankfully, it looks normal no milky or frothy appearance. I also haven't noticed any sweet smell, which is a relief. Engine temperature seems to be within the normal range as well. You mentioned the water pump. Is there a relatively easy way to inspect that, or is it buried deep and require some disassembly? And you said something about a blown head gasket. Is that also a possible issue, even without milky oil?

Okay, good news about the oil. A head gasket can leak internally (into a cylinder) without contaminating the oil right away, but it's less common. It would typically cause other symptoms like rough running, white smoke from the exhaust, or excessive pressure in the cooling system. As for the water pump, it's usually driven by the serpentine belt. You might be able to peek at it with a flashlight. Look for signs of dried coolant around the pump body or where it mounts to the engine. Honestly, pinpointing a small coolant leak can be tricky. Given that you've already checked the obvious spots, and you are not seeing other issues, and it's a gasoline engine (so it won't be cheap), I'd suggest taking it to a trusted mechanic for a pressure test of the cooling system. They can often find small leaks that are hard to spot otherwise.

Thanks so much for your help! I really appreciate the advice, especially about the pressure test. I took your advice and brought it to a local mechanic. They did a pressure test and found a small leak in one of the radiator hoses. Replacing it and topping off the coolant fixed the issue. The total repair cost me 52€.

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