i have a slow coolant leak that i cant find the source of no puddles just loss of antifreeze in the coolant tank. the low coolant light goes on i put a little antifreeze in it and it goes away for a few months then it come back. how do i determine if its the head gasket or in the egr system? crd has 121k. im getting ready to buy the weeks stage 2 kit. but should i just go ahead and buy the head gasket set and head studs? yes if i do the head gasket ill be putting on a new timing belt and components as well. any help would be great

Thoughts:
1. on a dead cold engine open radiator cap/coolant bottle cap; replace cap and tighten it down; crank up engine and idle for like 10-15 seconds; shut down; reopen radiator cap - if pressure escapes there is a good chance of a head gasket leak but if not the head gasket may be ok.
2. drop by a good local parts store or shop on Amazon for a) UV coolant dye and b) an inexpensive UV light; put dye in coolant tank; drive for a week or so; put vehicle in shade or better in garage; search for leak with UV light. Places to check include but not limited to heater hoses, thermostat area, viscous heater area, oil cooler (in front of turbo on passenger side and hard to see), EGR hoses and cooler, radiator, radiator hoses. It's amazing how much coolant can disappear with a slow leak in an area where the coolant evaporates before it can drip.

If TB has not been done you need to do it immediately if not sooner at that mileage.

PS fumble around down below the coolant tank and see if you can find the HVAC drain, where water drips if AC is running, does what comes out taste sweet? If so your heater core is leaking and yes coolant runs thru heater core at all times not just when heat is selected.

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timing belt was done at 78k. thanks for the info ill will check it out with the dye for now, but im going to at least order the stage 2 kit from weeks.

There are lots of places where coolant can slowly leak and evaporate before ever dripping on the ground.
I myself use a cooling system pressure tester. Just dont pressurize over 16psi.

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U.S. Army Retired

Have you already done the Stage1 intake elbow kit?
If so, there is an easy way to check for EGR cooler leak.

That cap you installed on the EGR port that lead to the old intake elbow, remove it.
If water comes out, you have a EGR cooler leak.

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U.S. Army Retired

yes already installed the stage 1 kit. so if i pull it off and no water then its not the egr system?

Yes. If you remove that cap on the EGR valve and no water comes out, the EGR cooler is not leaking.

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U.S. Army Retired

A head gasket is exceedingly likely, but the cold pressure test is your best bet at this point if pulling that blanking plate is inconclusive.


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did the pull cap off and let run for 15 seconds and repeat no pressure no hiss nothing. tomorrow i will pull the plate off and in the mean time i put the uv dye in as well.