I AM HAVING TO RE-FILL THE ANTIFREEZE TANK ABOUT ONCE A MONTH.BOTH OIL & TRANS DIPSTICKS LOOK FINE.I DON'T SEE ANY EXTERNAL LEAKS,CAR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SMOKING WHEN RUNNING.ANY IDEAS FINDING WHERE WATER IS GOING? THANK YOU.
Have you opened the radiator cap and looked at your coolant level in the radiator? Are you smelling coolant in the vehicle through the air vents? Possible leaking heater core. Have you had any cooling system work performed on the vehicle? Underfilled, after repairs. Rent a cooling system pressure tester from Kragen or Autozone and pressure test your cooling system and radiator cap for leaks. If you don't see any issues, dye and UV light may be your next step.
Posts: 209 | Location: los angeles, Ca | Registered: Feb 28, 2006
THANKS FOR THE REPLY. NO SMELL FROM VENTS,BEEN THERE BEFORE WITH OTHER CARS, CAR IS 7 YRS OLD WITH 60000 MILES NO WORK OTHER THAN ANTIFREEZE CHANGE AT 30000.IS IT POSSIBLE FOR BAD HEAD GASKET LEAKING INTO EXHAUST PORT?IF THIS COULD HAPPEN WOULD THERE BE WHITE SMOKE IN EXHAUST?THANKS AGAIN.
Depending on how bad the leak is, you may or may not see steam or white smoke out the exhaust. You can check the exhaust and see if you smell coolant on startup, look for any signs of residue at the exhaust tips. Pull your plugs and see if they're nice and shiny, like they've been steam cleaned. Look, for green specks on the center of the plug. Perform a cooling system pressure test on the cooling system, perform a compression test and a cylinder leak down test as well if needed. If no issues show up after these tests, you may want to use dye and the uv light. You can also take it to a shop that does smog and ask them if they can hold the exhaust probe over the uncapped radiator while the engine is idleing, to see if you have hydrocarbon gas readings in the cooling system. If you do, could be cracked block, head or even head gasket.
Posts: 209 | Location: los angeles, Ca | Registered: Feb 28, 2006
escape huh??! enough of that, the other thing you might check that everyone missed since you don't "see" anything (yet) and as Tech said watch the waterpumpo area when pressure testing it, but first check the rad cap! if the gasket is swollen then it will cause the antifreeze to be forced out of the overlo tank and you probably won't see anything cause that will happen while driving. $8 cap is cheaper,easier, and faster fix than a $1800 head job! my first words... I have heard from a few people with escapes with engine problems.
it is better to be amused by viewing than be annoyed by participating! go fish!
