On Oct 9, 8:48*am, aviatorc <aviato...@gmail.com> wrote:
> My 2000 Accord (60k miles) is occasionally losing coolant externally;
> i.e. once in a while there is a small puddle (2 inches in diameter) on
> the driveway; I can't seem to see where it's coming from. *All hoses
> appear to be in good shape; temp gauge remains the same as always
> (just under half-way). When it is parked after driving, there is the
> distinct odor of coolant, but can't find the source. *Perhaps a pin-
> hole leak in the rad or a hose? * What about the rad cap - after 8
> years, should it be changed?
>
> Dealer ran a pressure test at last service in June and said all was
> normal. *Any ideas?
>
> Thanks!

The easiest way to find the leaks is to look first thing in the
morning after it sits all night. A leak this small will evaporate
immediatly on a hot engine, but there should be a tell tale stain or
even a wet spot on the engine/radiator/hose after it cools. If its
the water pump, look for wetness at the bottom of the timing belt
cover or the bottom of the crank pulley.

This, of course, assumes the cap is still good and is holding
pressure. If you are not finding anything in the morning, it might not
be. 8 years is probably beyond the normal lifetime of a radiator
cap. Try a new one, but don't be surprised if there is a catastrophic
failure somewhere in the cooling system a couple of months after
changing it because the weak point in the system will no longer be the
cap.