I got a Low Coolant light about a week ago, I was going to burp it and see if that fixed it but havent had time until this weekend. I poured a little into the radiator Thursday just as a stopgap measure.

I noticed that the overflow tank is filling with coolant and for some reason is not being sucked back into the radiator. I just cant see why, the hose to the tank appears fine (but I believe its the original), the radiator cap is new, and there are no signs of blown head gaskets (plugs are good, oil is clean, no smoke in the exhaust, nor is the engine missing). The stat opens fine at the correct temperature. There is no leak from the engine area, and the hose seals to the radiator are fine.

Now the problem is getting worse, and of course yesterday my hood release cable decided to snap and I cant get the hood open....****.

With the engine cold, there are no leaks anywhere. Today with the engine running warm enough to start the auxiliary (on at 185 on mine) I pulled into my apartment and decided that I should check to see if its leaking, and its pouring out of the front. There is some coolant all over the passenger suspension and its puddling at the radiator base and dripping out of the air dam. I can only guess since my hood wont open that its that overflow tank, though I suppose the leak could be from the radiator on that side behind the shroud where I cant see. (did check the tranny fluid thursday, nice and red)

Car isnt running warmer than usual, yet.

So I guess when the tool to pop the hood and the cable get here, that I should start inspecting things, but dont know what to check first.

What else am I not thinking of? other than that it could still be the head gasket
1. pull shroud and inspect obviously
2. replace the hose to the reservoir, but can you get it off without pull ing the reservoir, i couldnt get my hands under the thing
3. replace the reservoir cap, even though its vented, i guess the cork could be gone
4. replace rad cap again
5. replace rad?

 

The overflow tank filling up and the radiator getting low IS a sign of a blown headgasket.

Just because you don't have external leaks or it looking like the Space Shuttle on launch doesn't mean the HG is ok.

 

See your website.


After reading your whole post, I would say you don't know if it is your HG yet. I chased a HG this past fall in my winter beater. Finally took it in to get a exhaust gas test done of the coolant. HG's can be a temp dependent leak and leak whenever they damn well please.

 

I had the same problem with mine, for about 3 months, replaced cap & hose. but i continued to lose coolant back to the overflow tank.

I replaced the probe and module, ran 2 different Chemical test, nothing. pulled the four gas out and checked, nothing, no sign of hydrocarbons in the coolant, that would indicate a head gasket problem.

Long story short, it was my head gaskets, they just were not leaking bad enough at that point to show up on any test. It would push more out into the purge tank than could be sucked back in.

If it is not a head gasket it would seem that it would almost have to be a leak in the cooling system or sucking air between the cap and radiator or cap and purge tank.

I do hope this is not your problem.

Good luck.

Greg N

 

You got that right!

 

I had a similiar issue. I found I had an air leak in the overflow tube going to the overflow tank. Also a bad radiator cap can cause this. Operation involves increased pressure venting to the overflow tank during hot, running pressures. Then on engine cool down creates vacuum to draw coolant back in to system. If system is venting via unknown route troubles will surface.