Losing a small amount of water

Tiny
JONSOLOW13
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 LEXUS LS 430
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 147,000 MILES
Having trouble figuring out where the water is going. Car loses around three ounces/day if we drive the car in hot weather (live in FL) around 2 hours/day. None of the hoses are leaking, and we can't find any water on the ground.

Car definitely loses water. We haven't pressured up the system yet, but even so, we don't think we'll see the leak.

My friend, an amateur wrench, speculates that maybe one of the head gaskets has a tiny leak on the exhaust side.

It is really baffling. If we forget to check the water at least every other day, for say a month, the car can start overheating. We have never let the engine lock up, and the valves sound fine.

There is no oil in the water, no bubbling, no white smoke in the exhaust, car runs smooth (no missing). Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jon
Friday, May 20th, 2022 AT 4:41 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Hi,

It could be a head gasket. Tell me; have you checked to make sure the radiator cap is holding pressure? If it isn't, it could allow coolant to slowly evaporate.

Also, it could be a head gasket issue as well. Take a look through this link and let me know if anything it discusses mirrors something you noticed:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Let me know.

Joe

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Friday, May 20th, 2022 AT 10:04 PM

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