WHERE DOES IT ALL GO?

[EKS PYB]

Starting earlier this year around May or so, I started getting a LOW COOLANT error on my cluster every 6 weeks or so. I have a '04 3.0 with 87k miles and never had any radiator, engine, or any major repairs done except maintenance. With all the stories I've heard on this forum, I pay VERY CLOSE ATTENTION to this ride.

I always park the X5 in the garage and look every morning and don't ever see a puddle on the floor for any leaks. So fast forward to now, I just got the error message again and I filled the radiator again like I always do but if I don't have a leak, where does it all go?

SIDE NOTE: Once in a while I do remember when I back up from the garage, there's a small 20 degree slope to get out and when I back up and stop the car on the ramp if I forgot something and park it there, turn off engine for a few minutes, when I get back in and back into the street I see a small drip on the ramp but I always thought that was from the A/C.

I'm also getting paranoid that if coolant leaks out, I am getting close to having the water pump fail on me, is that something I should look out for and get the part now?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Weasel]

Look closely at all the coolant hoses and such, anywhere that there is a small leak where the coolant evaporates off before dripping will have a kind of telltale crust buildup. Also look where the lower radiator hose goes to the radiator at the coolant temp sensor. The o-ring on the sensor gets deteriorated over the years and will let coolant leak past.

[EKS PYB]

Thanks Weasel, I'll take a closer look.

[binhly101]

This happened to me awhile back. found out that there was a pinhole leak in my expansion tank. Not so expensive, about 80 dollars for a new one and you could prob do it yourself, though I just had my indy do it for around 90 dollars.

[ecproductions143]

any update. I had expansion tank leak. I replaced it and now I have a mysterious leak. I also have to have the heat on 90 all the way up or the car overheats. I'am having to put fluid in about ever 15 mins just to get it back to the house. If i turn the Heater off it stops circulation becuase 1. The car heats up 2. the filler neck pisser stops pissing?? Any ideal anyone I see fluid but dont see the culprit??

[faranks]

Originally Posted by ecproductions143

any update. I had expansion tank leak. I replaced it and now I have a mysterious leak. I also have to have the heat on 90 all the way up or the car overheats. I'am having to put fluid in about ever 15 mins just to get it back to the house. If i turn the Heater off it stops circulation becuase 1. The car heats up 2. the filler neck pisser stops pissing?? Any ideal anyone I see fluid but dont see the culprit??

Do you have a huge plume of white smoke behind your car? Kidding.
An easy place to check is the joint where the lower hose goes into the bottom of the radiator, as mentioned prior, the o-ring tends to eventually leak. However, that is a lot of fluid. My money is on a partially ruptured hose somewhere. Since you cannot locate the source, explore the 2 hoses on the rear water manifold, if you have a 4.4.