Coolant Leak
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,395
Likes: 4
From: Anderson, IN
Coolant Leak
My 06 base has a small coolant leak somewhere. After a couple hundred miles I'll get the check coolant level alarm. I haven't been able to find any evidence of it yet; no wetness found on the engine, no smell of coolant when I open the hood. Once, I found a sight coolant odor near the radiator, but I can't be sure it was really the source of my leak. I park on gravel, making it difficult to find puddles.
I have noticed that I sometimes smell coolant at the back of the car when I'm getting stuff out of the rear. Are any coolant lines routed to the back? Transmission cooler? I haven't been able to get the car on a lift yet, so I'm not sure what the underside really looks like.
I have noticed that I sometimes smell coolant at the back of the car when I'm getting stuff out of the rear. Are any coolant lines routed to the back? Transmission cooler? I haven't been able to get the car on a lift yet, so I'm not sure what the underside really looks like.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
These cars calculate the coolant level, there is no specific level sensor. The common culprit is a bad coolant temp sensor.
One thing you can try, when you get that message again, switch the DIC over to coolant temperature. If you see it bouncing around, like 220, then 170, 210, 160, etc, repeatedly changing, the temp sensor is probably bad. If the temp sensor is bad it will give a coolant level error.
IF there is a slow leak, it's probably the water pump. That is pretty common too. You may need to add some leak detector dye to the coolant then use a black light to find the leak.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 278
Likes: 19
From: Phoenix area Arizona
Engine not running, after it cools down, from the passengers side, put your hand under the water pump & see if you get any coolant on your hand. I had this small leak on mine & replaced the pump.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,338
Likes: 2,437
From: Eastern
I did a 24 hr coolant pressure test after about 6 months of this happening, and lo and behold, I finally saw a little track of coolant behind the water pump pulley. I guess any leak was getting on the engine block, and the heat would evaporate it away, hence why no leaks could be seen.
I replaced the water pump, and the issue went away. My car had 30K miles when the pump was replaced, and now has over 70K.
There was caked on dried up coolant behind the old pump pulley, so it had been slowly leaking from the pump seal for awhile. It's impossible to see back there with the pump in place.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 285
Likes: 6
GM water pumps............:
These things have a mind of their own. Will leak a little over night, then not again for a week. Mostly when cold. A few weeks later, it will **** out your 2 gallons of antifreeze. Change it now.
Pressure testing system may not always work, that pump is evil.
These things have a mind of their own. Will leak a little over night, then not again for a week. Mostly when cold. A few weeks later, it will **** out your 2 gallons of antifreeze. Change it now.
Pressure testing system may not always work, that pump is evil.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 285
Likes: 6
Note to everyone:
Low coolant warnings without a loss of coolant usually is the coolant temperture sensor
Fluctuating readings from this sensor sets off a low coolant level alarm.
Low coolant warnings without a loss of coolant usually is the coolant temperture sensor
Fluctuating readings from this sensor sets off a low coolant level alarm.
Last edited by zali0104; Jun 16, 2015 at 05:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,395
Likes: 4
From: Anderson, IN
Definetly losing coolant. Had to add about a quart of water today. I couldn't find any traces of coolant around the water pump. My hands go dirty (a little), but it was dry dirt, nothing oily or coolant related.
Are there any coolant lines going to the rear of the car?
Are there any coolant lines going to the rear of the car?
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 285
Likes: 6
No coolant lines to rear.
Get a cardboard box, split apart and place under car overnight.
Also look for pink power residue on timing chain cover area.
If the above fails, Have cooling system pressure tested. Preferably with the engine cold.
Get a cardboard box, split apart and place under car overnight.
Also look for pink power residue on timing chain cover area.
If the above fails, Have cooling system pressure tested. Preferably with the engine cold.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,395
Likes: 4
From: Anderson, IN
Looks like it's the radiator. I parked on some concrete today, found a puddle under the front of the car. The driver's side lower radiator mount was full of coolant. I couldn't see the leakcoming from hoses. I'll do some more poking around. If I can't get 100% sure I'll get a pressure test kit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 806
From: West coast CA
Looks like it's the radiator. I parked on some concrete today, found a puddle under the front of the car. The driver's side lower radiator mount was full of coolant. I couldn't see the leakcoming from hoses. I'll do some more poking around. If I can't get 100% sure I'll get a pressure test kit.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,395
Likes: 4
From: Anderson, IN
Changing the oil and air/oil filter also. Also, my first time using ramps. Still seems a bit sketchy to me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 806
From: West coast CA
Just about done replacing the radiator. The real bitch was getting the right side of the condenser off of the radiator. I'm only bleeding in two places and broke a plastic tee fitting on a 1/4" line going back to the surge tank. Not too bad for me. I do not want to do this again.
Changing the oil and air/oil filter also. Also, my first time using ramps. Still seems a bit sketchy to me.
Changing the oil and air/oil filter also. Also, my first time using ramps. Still seems a bit sketchy to me.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,395
Likes: 4
From: Anderson, IN
That's exactly what I did. Fortunately, I was able to get the new tab in place. It took a lot of effort and cursing, but I got it in!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,684
Likes: 107
From: Opelika Alabama
the common "culprit" is a watchdog timer set to low in the programing, get it tuned and tell the tuner about the fault he will see it if he's worth his salt he can reconfigure the parameters my 06 did it for years, the dealer changed the thermostat, idiots, I told them it was a 180 but he wouldn't listen
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
the common "culprit" is a watchdog timer set to low in the programing, get it tuned and tell the tuner about the fault he will see it if he's worth his salt he can reconfigure the parameters my 06 did it for years, the dealer changed the thermostat, idiots, I told them it was a 180 but he wouldn't listen