[OT] Quick Vehicle Question

[Velenne]

This morning after my usual 30 minute commute to school, I got out of my '87 Nissan Pickup only to find that coolant was leaking out all over the ground. I quickly popped the hood and saw the seal that it was squirting from.

My question is: how much do you think it will be get the seal fixed? Is it ok to drive around (ie, to work in an hour) a few miles or do I need to get it towed to a shop?

Also, for awhile now, I've noticed that the oil pressure has been getting lower and lower. In the last few days, it's finally bottomed out and the engine has been running hot. So I added coolant and voila, the engine is not hot, but the oil pressure is still very low. I was going to take into an auto shop next Friday when I got paid but I guess the engine couldn't wait that long.

If you don't know the answer, but know of a reliable site or board where people are knowledgable on these things, that would help too. Thanks!

 

[Dremen]

it depends upon where the seal is. If it is a hose I have patched them with JB weld wrapped with duct tape clamped in 2 of those circular clamps. I did this a few times for months.

There is also a head gasket, which is burried in the engine. Not hard to change if you know what you are doing. I had this happen before. If you have an aluminum engin you cannot wait if the head gasket is gone. you could ruin the whole engine. I'm not sure about your oil pressure though. To replace the head gasket on a 89 toyota cresida cost me $1200 bucks 3 years ago. I had to sell some firearms to help pay for it. Happened 2 days before x-mas.

If you let this go it will blow your engine. If you make sure there is plenty of coolent in it you sould be able to drive it for a few miles. But the hotter it gets the more dangerous, if it is a hot day I would forget about it. If the coolent is leaking out there is no way for it to get cool.

The head gasket is near the mid to bottom of the engine itself, and there is a seem where the 2 parts of the engine meet. If it is leaking here you might be better off getting another used car. There are also soft plugs near the sides of the engine towardsthe bottem. These can blow out and are cheap to fix. You couldn't do it your self though. IF it is near the hoses you should be ok.

I can't help on the oil pressure I'm not a mechanic. I've just had every problem under the sun with used cars!
-D

 

[Velenne]

The leak is near the top of the engine, close to my air filter. It's about a 2" foam-rubber hose/tube and the coolant is leaking near the base where the hose joins up with something (don't know what that is)

 

[Mik]

Disclaimer - I'm not a professional mechanic, and I'm just a shadetree mechanic on my own cars (my knowledge is limited to problems I've had).

Could be a loose hose clamp, a bad hose, or a crack or pinch in the fitting under the hose. Check the hose itself first, once it is *cool*. Lightly squeeze it and feel for cracks, crumbly texture, sponginess. If the hose doesn't feel firm (not solid, just firm), that may be your problem.

If the clamp is loose, you can try to tighten it a little or replace it with a new hose clamp. Don't overtighten any clamp to a large fitting, as it could crimp or dent the metal of the fitting, creating a worse leak.

If the fitting is bad, fixing it will depend on the construction of the radiator, and you'll probably want a competent shop to do it.

For your oil pressure problem, I'm assuming that you've kept checking the level of the oil in the engine. If not, you need to do that regularly (overheating can break down the oil). If the oil got hot enough, you may have damaged a head gasket, or the oil pan gasket. Is there oil leaking from the car anywhere?

If you can't tell, place a big peice of cardboard (like a flattened box) under the car after you've run it and warmed the engine. Leave it there while you sleep or work and check it before you drive away. That can help you find where any fluids are seeping down from.

 

[Velenne]

The coolant was literally squirting from the hose leading from the radiator to the engine (assuming to the temperature guage). Upon further inspection, I've noticed that it's an actual hole in the hose, which is a relief.

That still doesn't explain my oil problem, however. The color doesn't seem milky or coffee-colored so I'm hoping (and praying) it's not a head gasket. Is there any other way to check?

 

[The Harbinger]

Just got the head gasget replaced in my 94 toyota. Other than the milky color, and a mayonaise like substance on the bottom side of your oil cap, you can have irratic idling, loss of power, and a few other vague problems. If there are no puddles underneath your vehicle and you are losing coolant, that *might* be the problem. Hopefully it is the hose though, and you will not see any more collant loss.

A mechanic can pressure test your engine by running an instrument through your radiator bottom - if it comes down to it. That should give you a firm diagnosis if you need it later.

Of note though, it my toyota - I'd lost a few timing chain guides and my chain had come a little loose, causing it to continually tap the timing chain cover and eventually poke a hole in it - therefore allowing coolant to enter the oil. So I ended up getting both the chain and gasget replaced. While this is a pretty rare problem, its worth noting.

As for the oil pressure loss...I'm at a loss.