General Maintenance & Repairs Leaks | Squeaks | Clunks | Rattles | Grinds
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Vanishing engine coolant?

Old Jan 19, 2013 | 11:27 AM
  #1  
bigbomber5's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 828
Likes: 11
From: 4o5
Default 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?
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2013 | 11:33 AM
  #2  
mikh338's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 918
Likes: 0
From: albany ny
Default

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.
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2013 | 12:34 PM
  #3  
bigbomber5's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 828
Likes: 11
From: 4o5
Default

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
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2013 | 02:18 PM
  #4  
AmDWs6's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: Bahrain
Default

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.
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2013 | 03:06 PM
  #5  
Spartan7's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 8
From: Spring, TX
Default

Did you check your oil for a milkshake yet? A very small leak will also cause this issue. My truck had a hairline crack in one of the radiator side tanks that did that.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2013 | 09:51 AM
  #6  
wssix99's Avatar
Save the manuals!
15 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,969
Likes: 389
From: Chicago, IL
Default

There are many causes to this... The first step (especially since you are getting smoke) is to get a pressure test done. Many places will do them for free. If it holds pressure, then it gets fun...
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2013 | 11:08 PM
  #7  
great421's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 2
Default

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)
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2013 | 08:44 AM
  #8  
wssix99's Avatar
Save the manuals!
15 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,969
Likes: 389
From: Chicago, IL
Default

Or, if the pressure test comes back normal all the way around, it could be a bad pump or several other things.
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2013 | 09:42 PM
  #9  
TrybalRage's Avatar
Staging Lane
15 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Reading, PA
Default

I have the same problem, just noticed a white residue around one of the factory crimped heater hose ends, near the firewall. Looks like just a very slight leak.
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:36 AM.