Vanishing engine coolant?
#1
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
Vanishing engine coolant?
Hello,
Every 2-3 months I have to refill my engine coolant. There are never any puddles underneath my car. Whenever my car is at full operating temp there is a faint white smoke coming from my exhaust. Any idea what may be going on?
Every 2-3 months I have to refill my engine coolant. There are never any puddles underneath my car. Whenever my car is at full operating temp there is a faint white smoke coming from my exhaust. Any idea what may be going on?
#2
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: albany ny
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sure sounds like a head gasket to me. the white smoke and it eating that much coolant is deff a huge sign. does it smell like coolant after you get out of car? check the oil see if you have milky color in it also.
#3
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
I'm not too keen to distinguishing smells just yet, but I tell you it doesn't smell like exhaust should, if that makes 'scents'. haha. It just rolled 120,000 on the ticker so a failing gasket sounds right. On a level from 1-10 and 10 being immediate and 1 being forget about it, where would you say replacing a head gasket would rank?
It's my DD and I like to keep my TA running perfectly, but I won't be able to address this for another week or two...
Thanks for your help
It's my DD and I like to keep my TA running perfectly, but I won't be able to address this for another week or two...
Thanks for your help
#4
TECH Apprentice
my brothers 99 z28 is doing almost the same when the car moves no leaks. at stop only a few drops but when you open the radiator it says "Feed me more" not to mention that the extra container is filled up too and gets completely nothing, still no ideas on the cause.
And his oil is just fine.. ...
so let us know what you end up with lol.
And his oil is just fine.. ...
so let us know what you end up with lol.
#7
Pressure test the coolant system and perform a leakdown test on all 8 cylinders.
If (during a leakdown test) a cylinder doesn't hold pressure and air bubbles escape at the radiator cap = Head Gasket.
If a coolant pressure test indicates a rise in pressure when the vehicle is idling = Head Gasket.
(Ask me how I know)
If (during a leakdown test) a cylinder doesn't hold pressure and air bubbles escape at the radiator cap = Head Gasket.
If a coolant pressure test indicates a rise in pressure when the vehicle is idling = Head Gasket.
(Ask me how I know)