Evaporating Coolant
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: St Sauveur QC
Evaporating Coolant
I own a 1988 convertible, this car is a summer, sunny day driver with 31,000km (17,000mi). The last year my coolant light has been coming on on an intermitent basis. I have also been adding antifreeze to the tanl as well. There are no visible leaks nor dicolored smoke from the exhausts. This has been a real mistery. Can any body help who has had similar experience?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in GA
Re: Evaporating Coolant (blackredvette)
Hmmmmmmmm
You've probably checked all the "normal" stuff right? Rad cap, water pump, loose hoses, heater core, radiator, coolant return tank (cracked?) and lines, etc.... I was loosing coolant in my 94 and couldn't find out where it was coming from until I removed one of the hoses from the water pump. There was just enough corrosion between the hose and the metal part of the pump that it would loose some when at temp and pressure but was nearly impossible to find until I took it all apart.
Anyway, what you might want to try is:
1. Go to Autozone (free) and borrow a radiator leak tester (pump) to see how fast (big) the leak is. Might be able to pinpoint it that way if it is large. Make sure the block is warm when you do it but be careful with the radiator cap area.
2. Use some coolant leak dye. The liquid is added to your coolant and will "glow" when a black light illuminates it. This might assist in pinpointing the leaky area. Might have to get to a large parts warehouse or mail order to get some. Here is a link to one I found real fast on Yahoo http://whiteac.com/leak2.html
3. As a last resort for a minor problem, some of the "snake oil" sealers might work if you just want it to stop and not dig into it too far. The 90's LT1's supposedly use sealant in the form of pellets from the factory to seal minor problems that are there or could occur. Some people use them again every time they change the fluid and others don't with mixed results. I've also seen where the simple addition of black pepper flakes have sealed systems for extended periods of time.
That problem may take time to locate, good luck :seeya
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Almost forgot, make sure you check the block for faulty freeze plugs. And another, noticed this was your first post, welcome to the Forum!
[Modified by Dragon2U, 9:29 AM 2/8/2002]
You've probably checked all the "normal" stuff right? Rad cap, water pump, loose hoses, heater core, radiator, coolant return tank (cracked?) and lines, etc.... I was loosing coolant in my 94 and couldn't find out where it was coming from until I removed one of the hoses from the water pump. There was just enough corrosion between the hose and the metal part of the pump that it would loose some when at temp and pressure but was nearly impossible to find until I took it all apart.
Anyway, what you might want to try is:
1. Go to Autozone (free) and borrow a radiator leak tester (pump) to see how fast (big) the leak is. Might be able to pinpoint it that way if it is large. Make sure the block is warm when you do it but be careful with the radiator cap area.
2. Use some coolant leak dye. The liquid is added to your coolant and will "glow" when a black light illuminates it. This might assist in pinpointing the leaky area. Might have to get to a large parts warehouse or mail order to get some. Here is a link to one I found real fast on Yahoo http://whiteac.com/leak2.html
3. As a last resort for a minor problem, some of the "snake oil" sealers might work if you just want it to stop and not dig into it too far. The 90's LT1's supposedly use sealant in the form of pellets from the factory to seal minor problems that are there or could occur. Some people use them again every time they change the fluid and others don't with mixed results. I've also seen where the simple addition of black pepper flakes have sealed systems for extended periods of time.
That problem may take time to locate, good luck :seeya
-----
Almost forgot, make sure you check the block for faulty freeze plugs. And another, noticed this was your first post, welcome to the Forum!
[Modified by Dragon2U, 9:29 AM 2/8/2002]
