My car has a very minute coolant leak that I can't find. I have to add maybe a pint every few days. I can smell it but can't find the leak. I have even parked over a piece of cardboard in hopes of finding it but to no avail. Anyone have any hints?

 

I have read that leaks from the hoses or fittings, as well as the tank itself, on the Reservoir Tank can leak onto the hot motor and evaporate producing the smell and eliminating the evidence of a leak. There may be a chance that you can spot some residue of past leakage under the tank area. A pressure test may help track it down, at least if the tank or a hose goes, it is under controlled conditions, rather than on the open road.

 

Common issue is the 'norma' connectors under the throttle body. They were used to make it easy to mate the engine to the body during manufacture, but corrode and leak, and are also real pain to get at. There are a number of posts about them, and also the fix, which can involve having to remove the inlet manifold to change the hoses that run through the engine valley. Others say they've cut them off and replaced them with straight pipe and hose clips. In my case, I had the heads off the engine, the Norma connections weren't leaking and came undone without issue, so I carefully cleaned all the seating areas and refitted them when the engine went back together. I have yet to get it running, so we will see if that was or was not a good idea.

Good luck.

 

Found some good ideas following different posts. Think I'll try a pressure test first. Thanks for suggestions

 

Hard to believe but Harbor Freight sales a good test unit with lots of different fittings for cars of all different varieties.
With a coupon under $70 and the green one fits the Jag and doesn't require you to plug off the overflow.
That way you can do it at the house with a cool engine and can feel or crawl around on top looking.
Mine was one bolt on the thermostat housing need a quarter turn.

Wayne

 

my water pump was leaking a tiny bit from the bottom and down the front of the motor. I never saw it till it got bad enough to see.

 

I had the exact issue on my wife's XKR. There was a small crack on the bottom of the reservoir that would only leak after it got to running temp. A pressure test cold did not reveal it. Drove me nuts, would leak down on the cat and burn off. Could smell it but never see the leak. Replaced the reservoir and fixed the problem. Hope it is that simple for you!

Mike K