Possible radiator leak?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
Possible radiator leak? well my Z28 is not my daily so it just sits in the garage.
I try to drive it a couple times a month just so that it does not just sit there and go to ****.
I let it sit for too long (about a month and a half) and i got in it to drive it after jumping the battery and it would idle at around 2500 so when i shifted into drive and reverse it would jump really badly.
thats not the bad part... the raidiator light thing was on in the cluster and i pulled the cap off the overflow tank and it was just at the bottom. below the cold and hot level. pretty much just empty.
and it was creamy... it looked similar to oil that has water in it...
I dont have a clue whats wrong or what that means and i dont know how it could have a leak if it has just been sitting in the garage.
help me.
I try to drive it a couple times a month just so that it does not just sit there and go to ****.
I let it sit for too long (about a month and a half) and i got in it to drive it after jumping the battery and it would idle at around 2500 so when i shifted into drive and reverse it would jump really badly.
thats not the bad part... the raidiator light thing was on in the cluster and i pulled the cap off the overflow tank and it was just at the bottom. below the cold and hot level. pretty much just empty.
and it was creamy... it looked similar to oil that has water in it...
I dont have a clue whats wrong or what that means and i dont know how it could have a leak if it has just been sitting in the garage.
help me.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
i havent looked at the oil but i am going to change it soon maybe this weekend
im guessing that if the oil is also creamy then that is another sign of a blown head gasket?
not hard freeze but probably just under freezing
If the head gasket is blown that will give me a chance to do some real work of my own to my car... the glass is half full?
im guessing that if the oil is also creamy then that is another sign of a blown head gasket?
not hard freeze but probably just under freezing
If the head gasket is blown that will give me a chance to do some real work of my own to my car... the glass is half full?
yes and no. blown head gaskets you will know because it will be in the oil or you will smell a sweet smell through the exhaust. creamy texture on the cap and on the coolant can be from insufficient heating and cooling. condensation will occur if the engine does not heat up properly then cool properly. it just happens. if you do have coolant in the oil, pull the dipstick and you see where the water is separated from the oil. if you notice slight "cream texture" on the oil fill cap, radiator cap, or reservoir dip stick it is most likely due to condensation. especially since you dont drive it very often. since it is winter time i would also recommend you turn it on more often and let it idle to full operating temperature to allow proper oil temperature, oil distribution, coolant flow, and pressure. winter time is an engine killer if its not a dd. if you have anymore questions regarding this or for the matter anything else feel free to pm me or reply. hope this helps.
-Miles
-Miles
i havent looked at the oil but i am going to change it soon maybe this weekend
im guessing that if the oil is also creamy then that is another sign of a blown head gasket?
not hard freeze but probably just under freezing
If the head gasket is blown that will give me a chance to do some real work of my own to my car... the glass is half full?
im guessing that if the oil is also creamy then that is another sign of a blown head gasket?
not hard freeze but probably just under freezing
If the head gasket is blown that will give me a chance to do some real work of my own to my car... the glass is half full?
You should test for a blown head gasket with a leak down test before tearing it down based on circumstantial indicators.
yes and no. blown head gaskets you will know because it will be in the oil or you will smell a sweet smell through the exhaust. creamy texture on the cap and on the coolant can be from insufficient heating and cooling. condensation will occur if the engine does not heat up properly then cool properly. it just happens. if you do have coolant in the oil, pull the dipstick and you see where the water is separated from the oil. if you notice slight "cream texture" on the oil fill cap, radiator cap, or reservoir dip stick it is most likely due to condensation. especially since you dont drive it very often. since it is winter time i would also recommend you turn it on more often and let it idle to full operating temperature to allow proper oil temperature, oil distribution, coolant flow, and pressure. winter time is an engine killer if its not a dd. if you have anymore questions regarding this or for the matter anything else feel free to pm me or reply. hope this helps.
-Miles
-Miles
This my first encounter with the notion that low temperature operation can lead to the formation of a creamy substance in the cooling system, which is presumably part water and part water soluble antifreeze.
Last edited by Darkman; Dec 18, 2010 at 09:22 AM.
