Coolant issues
10-26-2008, 06:17 PM
#1
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Coolant issues Whenever I checked the coolant level in my car a few days ago the coolant "stick" showed that the normal level of coolant was in the car for it being cold. Whenever I checked the level in the radiator it was significantly low. I filled the radiator and drove 90 highway miles and checked it again and it was somewhat low. There is no leak visible under the car. Anyone know what is going on or am i worrying about nothing. Car runs at normal operating temp.
10-26-2008, 08:36 PM
#2
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Don't pay attention to the overfill. Empty it out and fill it regularly thats about it. My level never ever changes. Make sure the radiator itself is full. When the car is cold, open the cap and start the engine. Let it warm up and make sure its full and there is no air in the system.
10-26-2008, 10:29 PM
#4
The pressure cap is special and has a relief that lets air in to the radiator as the system cools, which prevents a vacuum from building up and collapsing the radiator. (So, the only place you can really tell if the system is "full" is at the overflow reservoir.)
If things really look funky at the pressure cap, you might go ahead and replace it. (I'd suggest going with a GM version and not an aftermarket version.) The mechanism in the cap wears out and might be letting in too much?
If things really look funky at the pressure cap, you might go ahead and replace it. (I'd suggest going with a GM version and not an aftermarket version.) The mechanism in the cap wears out and might be letting in too much?
10-26-2008, 11:17 PM
#5
Related to cooling, does anyone have any issues or know what the issue is with the radiator hoses wanting to pop off? A few months ago, the left radiator hose slipped off, spewing coolant everywhere. I fixed that and now yesterday, the right radiator hose almost slipped off, but came loose enough to spew coolant everywhere. It's like the pressure is too high or something.
10-27-2008, 01:01 AM
#6
Whenever I checked the coolant level in my car a few days ago the coolant "stick" showed that the normal level of coolant was in the car for it being cold. Whenever I checked the level in the radiator it was significantly low. I filled the radiator and drove 90 highway miles and checked it again and it was somewhat low. There is no leak visible under the car. Anyone know what is going on or am i worrying about nothing. Car runs at normal operating temp.
How many miles do you have?
Do you have any overheating at all, with boiling of the coolant?
Get a pressure check done. Just know that if you do have a blown head gasket and you do a pressure check you could fill a cylinder with coolant, then when you start it you can hydralock your engine, damaging it pretty bad. So take all the spark plugs out for the pressure check and make sure coolant isn't sitting in any of the cylinders.
10-27-2008, 01:02 AM
#7
Related to cooling, does anyone have any issues or know what the issue is with the radiator hoses wanting to pop off? A few months ago, the left radiator hose slipped off, spewing coolant everywhere. I fixed that and now yesterday, the right radiator hose almost slipped off, but came loose enough to spew coolant everywhere. It's like the pressure is too high or something.
Check the clamps, maybe get some new ones.
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10-27-2008, 02:11 PM
#9
Have you started the engine when its cold with the radiator cap off...wait for the t-stat to open and keep topping it off for a few cycles of the t-stat opening and closing?
10-27-2008, 07:26 PM
#11
As the hot coolant from the engine/heads starts to trade places with the cooler coolant that was sitting in the radiator, the t-stat will slowly close as that cooler coolant makes it full circle and starts to flow across the open t-stat. Then when it closes you will see the flow stop.
As the level drops during the entire process, keep topping it off with distilled water or Dexcool. Preferably water, you would rather have more water than Dexcool in there.
11-06-2008, 05:57 PM
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so i got a new cap and i let my coolant cycle a few times and refilled the coolant but yet after i drove 10 miles yesterday the coolant level was down to the coil in the radiator, any ideas? After i shut the car off, i checked it 2 hours later and the coolant level had dropped more, nothing visible underneath the car, and the exhaust doesn't smell anywhere close to coolant. Also the reservoir is super full
Last edited by Formulals187; 11-06-2008 at 09:18 PM.
11-06-2008, 09:46 PM
#16
so i got a new cap and i let my coolant cycle a few times and refilled the coolant but yet after i drove 10 miles yesterday the coolant level was down to the coil in the radiator, any ideas? After i shut the car off, i checked it 2 hours later and the coolant level had dropped more, nothing visible underneath the car, and the exhaust doesn't smell anywhere close to coolant. Also the reservoir is super full
You could still have a blown head gasket and that small amount of coolant you're losing wouldn't be noticable to the nose.
11-06-2008, 10:09 PM
#17
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before the drive the radiator and the reservoir were full, after the drive the reservoir was more full and the radiator level dropped below the top coil (visible from the top of the radiator)
11-06-2008, 10:13 PM
#18
A bad radiator cap will allow coolant to go into the reservoir. Maybe the new cap is bad.
Are you running hot? Maybe you should stop by a dealership or parts place and have them scan so you know what the real temp of the coolant is. Sounds like excess pressure is pushing coolant into your reservoir.
11-06-2008, 10:15 PM
#19
I'd put it on a lift after its up to temp, and after topping the coolant off, and with a flashlight look for leaks all around the plastic part of the radiator and hoses. You could have a hairline leak that would be friggin hard to see just be looking under the car.
As you cool the pressure rises a little in the coolant system, then it begins to drop off slowly. Maybe it just squirts out when the pressure is climbing after you walk away.
As you cool the pressure rises a little in the coolant system, then it begins to drop off slowly. Maybe it just squirts out when the pressure is climbing after you walk away.