Locate Coolant Leak

[lgbbones]

My '03 2.3 has developed quite the appetite for coolant lately.
The facts:
At a rate of about a reservoir's worth per 100 miles.
I can smell coolant when I'm outside the truck and it's been running.
My radiator is less than 2 years old.
No obvious signs of a leak, no dripping anywhere, spraying, etc.
There is pressure if I loosen the reservoir cap when warmed up.

The opinion:
I don't think it's the head gasket or anything internal since I smell coolant.
I would think that coolant consumption this high would also result in no pressure in the system.

Any ideas? Are there any common leak points on the Dura 2.3?
If it's the heater core, where would that drip out?
I'm stumped.

 

[srteach]

You smell coolant when running? You find no external leaks? Does the exhaust smell like coolant? That indicates that coolant is going through the engine. There will always be pressure in a heated cooling system, but pressure in the reservoir is indicative of blown head gasket. The cylinder pressure is more than the 16psi upper limit for cooling system and is bleeding into the cooling system.
If the cooling system is pressurized when cold, then you have other internal problems as well.

Do a compression test (tools rentable from AutoZone and the like). I,m guessing you will find a bad (lower pressure) cylinder.

Heater core leak would show up as a wet spot on the passenger side floor, or "steam" on the wind shield when the heater is on and blowing. That much coolant loss would also make it disgusting smelling in the cab when the engine is warmed up.

 

[lgbbones]

The reservoir in a Dura 2.3 is supposed to be pressurized. Lack of pressure would be indicative of a problem, not having pressure.
Yet I have pressure and a leak.

 

[lgbbones]

The leak finally revealed itself, starting dripping to the ground from the underside of the small hose that runs along the driver's side of the block. Looks like it's going to be a PITA to get to the back end of it.

 

[Incinr8]

If its the hose im thinking of, you're in for a treat.

 

[jaynine89]

I have a similar problem with my 2001 2.3. Coolant gets sprayed out of the driver's side somewhere and goes down the driver's side of the radiator and into the tray that holds the battery, but I can't find any actual hole in a hose. Is there one that might be the culprit?