Low Coolant Light 1986 Coupe
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Great Mills MD
Low Coolant Light 1986 Coupe
I have a low coolant light that I think is an air bubble. The light appears comes on mostly when the car is 195 degrees or below. I have tried to burp the system by warming the car putting the RPM's at 2000 and filling the radiator. This will solve the problem for 30 miles or so, but then it comes back. The rocovery bottle level is always the same reguardless of engine temp. The car does not overheat, and I dont think that I am loosing coolant. Am I not burping the system correctly, or do I have a possible bad intake or head gasket. Thanks for the help.
Craig
Craig
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 346
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
I've been having the same problem with my '86, In looking for solutions I found several hose clamps that where not tight. This has helped but I am going to try and burp the system again, years ago I think I did this at a small line coming from the back of the engine on the passenger side (maybe over to the heater supply lines?). Also had an intake leaking coolant problem once at about 50,000 miles, now has 112,000. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,162
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Its possible that you have a very small leak, you'll need to check especially at the water pump and the heater control valve, which was my problem.
The leak can be so small that you wouldnt see it unless youre staring right at it, especially at those hose clamps.
I'm assuming the engine runs fine and you get no white smoke in the exhaust.
The leak can be so small that you wouldnt see it unless youre staring right at it, especially at those hose clamps.
I'm assuming the engine runs fine and you get no white smoke in the exhaust.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: Columbus GA
Cruise-In I Veteran
Not to throw up a red flag, but my 87 just had similar symptoms and it turned out to be a leaking intake manifold gasket. Just to be sure check the oil dipstick for signs of coolant just to be safe.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 670
Likes: 1
From: charlotte nc
My 86 had the same problem. It turned out to be a coolant leak in the intake at front passenger side. I had a devil of a time finding it. At first I thought it was the water pump because the leak was in the same general area. One thing that I did that helps bleed air out of the system (assuming no leaks) was to drill four 1/16 inch holes radially around the flange of the thermostat. This allows any air that is trapped under the t-stat to escape easily and will not adversly affect warm up or temps.
