Engine drinking coolant.

[SOHC-FTW]

Soooooo..... you've found a leak or am i reading wrong?

[wed3k]

Your attitude isn't needed. The OP wasn't aware of where the leak was coming from, other than behind the radio.

you quoted geoff...he isn't the OP.

[dj_ender]

I know I quoted Geoff, doesn't explain your need for a smart ass remark.

[toycar]

I hope its something simple. I have had similar issues with the empty over fill tank. If your coolant system gets too much pressure, it will force all the coolant out of your overflow tank.

Common on a turbo car thats lifting the head under boost(needs arp hardware) or a car with a failing head gasket.


Hopefully its just a hose leaking or something stupid.

[Joey GT-R]

So I still can't get that pressure test done at work....guess that's what happens when it's free it has been 2 weeks. But..... I was going to O'Reilly's for my weekly gallon and when I went to take the rad cap off, there was pressure releasing.....I was missing that the whole time and it never occurred to me. I bought a new cap. Temps seem fine for now....will update if things still go wrong.

[SOHC-FTW]

Just for reference you can rent a pressure tester and do it in the parts store parking lot.

[Joey GT-R]

So at the suggestion of a local tuner, we attempted to bleed the cooling system. The car was already warmed up, and the coolant just sat there and boiled. While there's no white smoke, he's pretty sure my headgasket is blown. Anyone want to confirm that suspicion?

[illinois_erik]

my radiator had a pin hole and some other things going on. I said fuck it after putting in a gallon a week. I dumped a 3/4 1$ thing of coarse ground black pepper in there the next fill up. i dont see steam anymore. apparently the pepper goes to the leak and becomes a seal and hardens up. this has been a week, ill check levels tomorrow before work but since i dont see steam after parking at work after a 29 min highway ride, im convinced it worked well.

[Joey GT-R]

my radiator had a pin hole and some other things going on. I said fuck it after putting in a gallon a week. I dumped a 3/4 1$ thing of coarse ground black pepper in there the next fill up. i dont see steam anymore. apparently the pepper goes to the leak and becomes a seal and hardens up. this has been a week, ill check levels tomorrow before work but since i dont see steam after parking at work after a 29 min highway ride, im convinced it worked well.

The issue isn't a leak.

[illinois_erik]

Fix Joey's Car Month continues....


So 2 weeks ago I was in the drive thru and I notice what looks like steam coming from my car, but I was behind a V8 SUV so I'm thinking it's his exhaust gas. A week later, it happens again after I shut off the car. The steam only comes off for about 5-10 seconds, then it's gone, so I can't even pop the hood in time to see where it's coming from. Based on the sound I think it's the hose directly connecting to the radiator but I could be wrong. Engine temps still showing normal at this time. Then a few days later, the engine overheats excessively fast after about roughly 3 minutes of driving. I pull over and add about a quart of coolant. It overheats again, but very slowly with the needle never reaching the top. Then, as I pull into walmart to buy more coolant, temps drop instantly. I added another 3 quarts of coolant and for the next week, everything is fine again. Today, I notice the temp gauge running very slightly higher than normal. It raises again slightly but only till about 3/4ths of the temp gauge itself; with the wind coming through the bumper keeping temps normal. I'm going to add another half a gallon of coolant tonight, but I can't/won't buy coolant once a week.


I've continually went under the car and can't find an ounce of coolant leaking anywhere. So I'm thinking something is failing. Headgasket? Thermostat? Water pump? Can radiators cease to work even if there's no leak? I'm taking the suggestion of doing a coolant system pressure test, but beyond that I'm clueless.

The issue isn't a leak.

well..if youve burped it and youve tried and you still add coolant on a regular basis..thats a leak of some sort so you can try the pepper as a quick fix.
have you done the pressure test yet or better yet for 20 bucks you buy a reagent kit and see if there's hydrocarbons in your coolant. good luck.

[SOHC-FTW]

So at the suggestion of a local tuner, we attempted to bleed the cooling system. The car was already warmed up, and the coolant just sat there and boiled. While there's no white smoke, he's pretty sure my headgasket is blown. Anyone want to confirm that suspicion?

Yeah YOU can confirm it by doing a leak down test as i suggested earlier.

[wed3k]

So at the suggestion of a local tuner, we attempted to bleed the cooling system. The car was already warmed up, and the coolant just sat there and boiled. While there's no white smoke, he's pretty sure my headgasket is blown. Anyone want to confirm that suspicion?

with factory mls gaskets, it only takes a little bit of the head to warp until it will seep. ive seen head gaskets leak and no white smoke. sometimes it can be confused with water or condesation in the mornings. on my vw, it was so bad, it would misfire for 30 seconds until all the coolant cleared out of the cylinder. otherwise it drove fine unless the coolant was low.

[Stoner51]

Wifes Altima was like this. Burned coolant we kept adding it. It was hot as hell Thought nothing of it. weather gets cooler and all the sudden number 3 misfire so we replace the coil. A week later same number 3 misfire.
Head gasket blown. Her answer new car.

Are the plugs white? I think they should be if your leaking coolant into the combustion chamber.

steve

[Joey GT-R]

wed3k I think you hit it on the head with the slight smoke that appears to be condensation or water. I know this sounds crazy but maybe the headgasket has to do with my idle issue since coolant flows through the IACV?

I'm going to swap the headgasket on Thursday. I have to go out of town this weekend so gotta get this working. I may even do the timing belt and water pump while I'm at it.

I'm gonna nip this in the bud....I REFUSE to go back to an F22A. (No Offense to F Owners )

[dj_ender]

You do realize that the coolant doesn't run thru the IACV, but rather runs under it to heat it up to normal operating temps.