More coolant problems... Green slime. LC light.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
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From: Sacramento CA
More coolant problems... Green slime. LC light.
Sometimes it seems as if the car doesn't take the water from the overflow tank - in fact, it overflows, gives me a LOW COOLANT light, and the car gets over 240. The fans do come on
I can shut the thing down, wait a few minutes, and go.. And it works just fine. Once in a while, it will run low on coolant and I have to add more.
The only sign of a leak i can find, is towards the lower radiator hose side, on that beam under the front of the engine may be a few drops of water. The water pump is dry as a bone, and I already changed the hose out.
Also, the coolant seems to have a slime in it... Like algae growing on the dipstick. I doubt it's oil - it's pretty "saturated" by the water.
Any insight? Thanks.
I can shut the thing down, wait a few minutes, and go.. And it works just fine. Once in a while, it will run low on coolant and I have to add more.
The only sign of a leak i can find, is towards the lower radiator hose side, on that beam under the front of the engine may be a few drops of water. The water pump is dry as a bone, and I already changed the hose out.
Also, the coolant seems to have a slime in it... Like algae growing on the dipstick. I doubt it's oil - it's pretty "saturated" by the water.
Any insight? Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
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From: San Pedro CA
Re: More coolant problems... Green slime. LC light. (Kale)
you need to do a complete back flush.
the slime is 15+ years of built up scum... it needs to come out...
I think Zerex makes one of the nice flushes....
Also, check for a shop that services using BG products.
BG uses a machine that will pump cleaner through backwards and filter it out. cleans pretty good, from what I have heard.
the slime is 15+ years of built up scum... it needs to come out...
I think Zerex makes one of the nice flushes....
Also, check for a shop that services using BG products.
BG uses a machine that will pump cleaner through backwards and filter it out. cleans pretty good, from what I have heard.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: More coolant problems... Green slime. LC light. (Kale)
If you have the aux oil cooler, check the aluminum tube from the heater hose to the oil cooler. See: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=373064
You coolant will boilover around 125* or so if the system does not hold pressure. The pressure cap gives you all the boil-over protection. If you have a leak (no pressure) and exceed around 125*, it turns to steam and has no cooling effect any longer until it cools back into water / coolant.
I also have found that the pressure cap seems to only last about 2 years, so now change with each coolant flush.
The slime may just be the left-overs from the sealing tablets. I don't use them anymore. Could also be really old coolant, but doubt it. Mine has been nice and clean since I stopped putting the tablets in.
Pete
You coolant will boilover around 125* or so if the system does not hold pressure. The pressure cap gives you all the boil-over protection. If you have a leak (no pressure) and exceed around 125*, it turns to steam and has no cooling effect any longer until it cools back into water / coolant.
I also have found that the pressure cap seems to only last about 2 years, so now change with each coolant flush.
The slime may just be the left-overs from the sealing tablets. I don't use them anymore. Could also be really old coolant, but doubt it. Mine has been nice and clean since I stopped putting the tablets in.
Pete
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,540
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From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: More coolant problems... Green slime. LC light. (Kale)
isnt the oil cooler on the drivers side, rear
It attaches to the heater hose near the fuel lines and water pump, somewhat passenger side. An aluminum tube brings the coolant from the heater hose, around the oil pan to the other side of the engine.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Re: More coolant problems... Green slime. LC light. (PeteL)
Ah yeah, I replaced the parts there quite recently. Took me quite a while to find out how that coolant got on my brake booster.. till i looked under the car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: More coolant problems... Green slime. LC light. (Kale)
Hmmm, aluminum tube is new?
I guess I would check the other connections on the water pump for leaking, and intake manifold.
If you have an Autozone nearby (or a buddy with one) you could use a pressure tester. Pump the cooling system up to 15 #s and try to find the leak. You could also add a UV dye to the coolant and drive for a while and come back with the light and see what you can see.
I guess I would check the other connections on the water pump for leaking, and intake manifold.
If you have an Autozone nearby (or a buddy with one) you could use a pressure tester. Pump the cooling system up to 15 #s and try to find the leak. You could also add a UV dye to the coolant and drive for a while and come back with the light and see what you can see.
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Re: More coolant problems... Green slime. LC light. (Kale)
Put the thing up to the system, pumped it to 16psi.
Couldnt find any leaks.
Hooked it to the cap, and the cap would only hold 14psi
put on a new 16psi cap. The old was 17.
Still get low coolant light a lot, but no weird heat readings. Will burp the system tomorrow. Thanks.
[Modified by Kale, 8:25 PM 8/26/2002]
Couldnt find any leaks.
Hooked it to the cap, and the cap would only hold 14psi
put on a new 16psi cap. The old was 17.
Still get low coolant light a lot, but no weird heat readings. Will burp the system tomorrow. Thanks.
[Modified by Kale, 8:25 PM 8/26/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,464
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From: Modesto CA
Re: More coolant problems... Green slime. LC light. (Kale)
I was getting the low coolant light alot. I just added more coolant. First I filled my overflow tank like almost full. Then I opened the radiator and filled it, then turned the car on with the heater on, let it run to 180º(thermostat opens at 160º) And filled it with as much as I could get in it, took it to 2500rpm, filling it. Capped it and let the RPM's fall. Haven't had any trouble since!
