Can Overheating Be Linked To Overflow Res

[scruffboy]

My overflow reservoir has a leak. I attempted to fix it on the weekend but it started to rain and I realized there was more than one bolt holding it on like I thought, so I figured it could wait till this weekend. I usually had to add coolant every two days but I ran out and for the past two days have been running with the overflow dry. Toyota wants 105 US dollars for this stupid little item and I'll be damned if I pay that for what amounts to a plastic soda bottle. Anyways, today I overheated after a short run (maybe two miles). I let it cool down and drove it back home slowly with the hood popped and the heater blowing. So I got home and sure enough I was low on coolant in the radiator (which has never happend before) but I saw no leaks. I filled the radiator and the res and ran the car a little and everything seemed to work fine and still I saw no leaks under the car. Can this little reservoir cause such a headache? I left the car in the driveway and took the bus, but I plan on taking it off and using some kind of epoxy on it. What I'd like to know is, should I be looking some where else for leaks, or can the reservoir be the totality of my problem? I love this car and it usually runs like new but I'm having some little thing drive me nuts every other week lately.

Thanks

James in NJ

[j3pz]

the res is supposed to overflow if it has too much in it. are you sure it has a leak/hole in it? mine did this also but it was only because of a bad thermostat

[scruffboy]

Yeah, it leaks. I fill to the halfway point like it says, put cap on nice and secure so no evap, and in two days its drained. As its winter here, I cant just use water, and its getting expensive using all this coolant. What would happen if I pinched off the hose, would it fool the sensor?

James in NJ

[ddmcse]

i'd say your engine is using the water instead of it's leaking out of the bottle .
unless you actually see water coming out of the bottle it's not the bottle it's the cooling system .

[mrnickleye]

Originally Posted by ddmcse

i'd say your engine is using the water instead of it's leaking out of the bottle .
unless you actually see water coming out of the bottle it's not the bottle it's the cooling system .

It sounds like your engine is sucking it into a cylinder and burning it off. Do you smell antifreeze at the tailpipe?? How's the oil? Milky brown?? Over full??

[scruffboy]

Yeah, I'm leaking coolant. It's not overflow res. Problem is, I leave for work, its dark, I come home, its dark and damn hard to see where problem is. Went for short drive this morning (3 Mi.) and definitely was burning off coolant, which I topped off last night. Parked under streetlamp near work, popped hood and a little mist coming from engine compartment. Nothing on top though, upper hose good, but thought I saw moisture on lower hoses. Question, if I have pressure test done to check system could it do more harm then good? I didn't even think to check tailpipe, but I checked oil level in dark, not over full, but could not tell color. Should I bring it to a shop? How will I know they ain't jerkin me around if they tell me its something serious and its only a hose?

Thanks,

Scruffboy