Ok another mysterious problem with my Maxima, hoping you guys can help me figure this out.

Last Friday I checked all fluid levels as I was about to drive out to Las Vegas. I noticed that the coolant reservoir was almost empty. I checked the radiator and the coolant level is good. It seemed kinda weird but I went ahead and filled up the reservoir. I looked under the car to check for visible leaks and nothing. I drove all the way to Vegas and had no problems whatsoever. While I was there, I bought a new radiator cap (with a pressure release lever) and replaced the existing one. I thought maybe the radiator was loosing pressure. I drove back lastnight, again no problems. I checked the coolant level in the reservoir this morning and noticed that I've lost some coolant as the level is below max, about an 1" below the mark. Again, no visible leaks, however, I did noticed some spash marks (which are already dry) coming from the top radiator hose connection to where the ECTS is. Some splash marks were evident on the battery and valve cover fasica. I reached in there to see if there are wet areas and all is dry!!! I didn't notice this before but I do smell coolant on the surrounding areas. I checked all over the engine for coolant leaks and none! Any ideas???

 

That level dropping an inch isn't a big deal... See if keeps dropping. You might have had a small air pocket in the cooling system that is now full of coolant.

You might have some slight seepage near where the rubber hose joins the coolant "log" where the sensors screw it... perhaps disconnect the hose and reattach the clamp or just tighten the clamp.

 

when it's cold, check in the fan shroud, could be pooling in there and the fans are blowing a/freeze around. if not...try checking the other areas while its running and has pressure built up. wait till the temp is up so the thermostat is open.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I have to take out the intake snorkel and check in the fan shroud. One thing I did notice is that rubber "grommet" that is in the radiator support brackets are all cracked and worn and the radiator moves back and forth freeley. I don't think its suppose to be that loose. I will also check again the hose connection to the coolant log. I did change the hose about 5 months ago and I did tighten that area pretty well. Thanks for the suggestions, more are welcome.

 

You need to get the car all warmed up before you will really be able to find any leaks. The plastic on the radiator cracks pretty easily, and can be hard to see. Ive seen really small, thin cracks in them that were almost impossible to see, except for the occasional little wisp of steam. Only reason I even checked was the smell of coolant. Keep looking and hopefully you will figure it out.

 

Just out of curiousity, do you guys know how much a new radiator is going for these days?

 

150 dollars.

 

< 100 bucks Ebay.

 

I think I located the source of the leak. I popped the hood open while the engine is running after driving out for lunch and back to work. Right below the radiator filler opening, there's a horizontal line that runs along the width of the radiator. I saw some coolant seeping thru there. The weird thing is that it doesn't look like it could leak out easily. But due to the fact that the radiator is sitting under the support bracket all loose, it looks like the radiator rocks a lot while the car is in motion and the coolant is flying all over the place mainly spilling into the areas I have seen dried radiator fluid marks on.

Looks like its time for a new radiator.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-99...10027673QQrdZ1

 

You could pull it off and get it pressure tested to see exactly where the leak is coming from.

 

Although rare for a VQ, one sign of coolant loss with no visable leaks is a leaking water pump bearing and consequently, a failing water pump. Rare, but is a possibility.

 

I've thought of that. Although the water pump was already replaced 2 years ago, I still checked the surrounding areas for leakage and it is bone dry.

 

I checked for leaks this morning. It's definitely the radiator. Luckily, the crack where the fluid is leaking out of is at the base of the filler neck of the radiator. So basically, there's fluid loss up to that point. There's still plenty of fluid left in the radiator below that point to keep the car from over heating. The only downside is the reservoir will always run out of fluid. I'm getting ready to order a radiator from e-bay.