Losing Fluid When Cold?

[LMJ]

Hello All,

I'm new here and hope someone can give some advice please.

I've got a 2001Y IS200. I lost the hot air and engine temp went into the red last week. Heart sunk as I thought it may be the head gasket, but oil is not milky and no notable amount of white smoke from the exhaust. I replaced water and coolant, and things went back to normal. Same thing happened a few days later. Called a mechanic who again replaced water and coolant, but after spending a good time looking with the engine running, couldn't find any leaks and there were no signs of the head gasket being on its way out. He drove it and the temp stayed stable and hot air returned.

However, a while after he'd gone, there was a load of fluid on the road again. Can anyone point me in the right direction of where to go from here? It looks like the fluid loss is when the engine is cool/cooling as it wasn't happening when it was running.

Many thanks!

[Chris King - Lexus Stoke]

Sorry but it does sound like the head gasket has gone.

It may be that the gasket has failed towards an outer water jacket and the fluid leaks, when cold, then when the engine has warmed up the head/block both expand temporarily sealing the leakage until the engine cools before.

Unusual but most likely.

You could purchase some UV dye used in A/C gas leak detection, refill the coolant and add an egg cup full of the dye and at least the dye will leave a visible trace.

Hope that helps.

Good Luck!

[LMJ]

Thanks for taking the time time reply. Turned out to be the radiator. All replaced and working fine now.

[petayV8]

Was gonna say never heard of a head gasket going on these but then again who know what kind of a life its LED. Glad its all sorted anyway