Big Stick

OK Guys - I need a little help in diagnosing the problem. Somehow, I'm losing coolant but it's not obvious to me where it's going. I recently did a head and cam install, so my first supposition is of course the head gasket. However, I've found no evidence of coolant in the oil or vice versa. Is it possible that it's getting into the combustion chamber without getting into the crankcase? How would I check for that? The other weird thing is I'm losing coolant out of the radiator yet I still have plenty in the overflow. It's like it's overflowing as it should but not drawing it back in when it needs it, allowing air into the system.

Maybe a bad radiator cap? Anyone have suggestions of what to check? I'm really baffled by the full overflow / low radiator.

Thanks

robertbartsch

Does the exhaust smell weird - like antifreeze?

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Well - I would do the following.

1) Really check the hoses and fittings, I have two buddies who thought they had blown head gaskets when they were nothing more than leaky fittings.

2) Once you do that, top off the coolant cold, and then monitor usage. If it's a quart every other day you have a blown headgasket and it's just seeping into the combustion chamber and burning there... It's not initialy noticeable but after a while you can smell it and see it... but it might take a few weeks.

PSJ

strokedls1

iTrader: (1)

I would say that the head gasket is leaking, and pressurizing the coolant which forces the coolant into the overflow container. If it is spraying out the overflow cap then that is what I suspect is the problem.

Raughammer

...any bubbles in the radiator when running the car with the radiator cap off?