coolant leak (the weird type, SEARCHED!)

[ranisron]

Guys,

Help me diagnose this coolant leak problem.

Basic facts: 93 240SX has 160k on the KA24De, mods are suspensions only.

Problem:
1. coolant leak on the driver side, under the area around exhaust manifold.
2. coolant ONLY leak when the car is parked
3. coolant leaks TILL the bottom part of the coolant reservoir (this is the weird part). And I do not see any wet areas under the passenger side (where reservor is located). Before coolant fillup, I can see some coolant left in the bottom part of the reservoir. basically, coolant resevoir is never totally empty.
4. I have checked the water pump (that hole), and I see no leaks.

any ideas where my leak is / diagnose the leak?

1. Perhaps I could run some dye?
2. The coolant drain plug under the exhaust mani?
3. I really couldn't think of anything...

Thank you for any suggestions...

[g6civcx]

Check your heater hoses. Sometimes they'll leak down to the cat and exhaust manifold.

The best way would be to pressure test your cooling system. Any shop should be able to do it for a few bucks, maybe even free. When they pressure test it, any leaks will be revealed so you don't have to go chasing ghosts.

[omgosh]

Well thats where the drain plug on the block is, Id check that first.

[g6civcx]

Good call. I didn't think of that. The drain plug is slightly below the exhaust manifold, on the block.

[nsn240]

drain plug and heater hoses... i had the exact same problem, just had to tighten the heather hose

[m0rex]

It took me a while to find out that it was my water pump. It will leak out but just a little bit. Till it started leaking a lot i always thought it was something else but i found out because everything else looked intact.

[punxva]

hey, check your freeze plugs, mine did the same thing, and mine were all corroded, they are like $3.00, but are a bitch to replace.

[1mns13]

Make life easier. Pressure test the system and watch for the leak.