2000 JAg Vanden Plas vehcle is using approx 1 quart of anti freeze every 300 miles or so. I cannot locate where the leak is coming from. When I pull the vehicle ito the garage, I do get a slight odor of antifreeze while the engine is hot. Any suggestions?? Thanks Pullled in NJ

 

Check around the base of your thermostat housing at the front of the engine. If you see coolant sitting in the depressions right next to it, your thermostat housing seal is failing (or the housing itself could have a small crack in it). I replaced the housing, thermostat, cap, coolant rail and all the seals and it took me about an hour, once I had all the right tools. Depending on the mileage on your car it might be advisable to replace all this stuff anyway. The parts cost about $175 if you do it all. The dealer wanted over $1,000 (I took it there because I have an extended service plan which, of course, covered nothing I needed), and they weren't even going to replace everything I did.

My housing seal was leaking for a while before I found out. I kept losing coolant, but saw no detectable leak anywhere. Finally, the seal failed to the point that coolant was rushing down my driveway when I started the car.

 

Same here. The possible reason that you don't see anything on the ground is because it is evaporating when it hits the hot engine. Do you smell anti freeze thru the vents? Does it only happen when you use the heat?

 

I have the same problem....for me the leak is where the small coolant line connects to the expansion tank (at the quick connect).

 

YES someone else has this issue......uh sorry.
I just asked about this in the coolant smell thread in the general help section, check it out and lets keep eachother informed.
I have not noticed any coolant loss, but I've only had the car a few days and checked the leveltwice.

 

hi, can anyone explain how to bleed cooling system on my xj8 1998? after i did it my way the pipe that goes from thermostat to radiator pops off ever day . perhaps there is some bleed cap? or bleed pipe that I don't know about? thanks

 

the sap with a hex in the top of the thermostat housing is how you remove air, take it off and fill till coolant is level with the top of the opening. then reinstall, but if youre bloing off the lower rad hose, replace that T stat cover and the lower hose, the ribs on the cover are too smooth, also pull that stupid brass check ball off the t stat as it creats a 1 sided suction on the lower hose pulling that hose off the cover when the engine cools, and tends to trap air on the back side

 

Nice headlights!!!