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Burning coolant?

Slick2500

Slick2500

New member
A friend of mine bought a 2000 Impala with the n/a 3.8 and it is burning coolant pretty bad. My friend was telling me that when he took off the radiator cap he could smell an exhaust smell after he opened it. I am guessing that it might have a blown out head gasket but I am not 100% sure on that. Just thought I would see what you all thought it might be.
 


rad cap off, rev the engine watch inside the rad for bubbles after you let off the gas.

they sell a test kit, it goes on the rad in place of the cap. if the fluid changes color theres o2 gasses in the coolant.
 
Have him pop the TB. Most likely you'll see that right inside the UIM where the EGR tube comes up has a lot of moisture around it. This would mean the UIM has cracked and is allowing coolant into the intake.
 
BillBoost37 said:
Have him pop the TB. Most likely you'll see that right inside the UIM where the EGR tube comes up has a lot of moisture around it. This would mean the UIM has cracked and is allowing coolant into the intake.
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This was another thing I was thinking is wrong.
Maybe you should tell 98grandprickvet that the l36 upper intake is garbage and prone to cracking. Because according to him they never crack.
 
Slick2500 said:
This was another thing I was thinking is wrong.
Maybe you should tell 98grandprickvet that the l36 upper intake is garbage and prone to cracking. Because according to him they never crack.
Click to expand...

Arguing with Tyler is less satisfying than banging my head on a concrete wall.
 


Scottydoggs said:
rad cap off, rev the engine watch inside the rad for bubbles after you let off the gas.

they sell a test kit, it goes on the rad in place of the cap. if the fluid changes color theres o2 gasses in the coolant.
Click to expand...

The car is dumping coolant so fast that the radiator won't fill and then the engine Vapor locked.
 
If it's not too late to save it, I highly recommend plugging the LIM using Bill's tap/plug method. Did that to my 2004 while doing the LIM gaskets... saved me from buying a new UIM and no more worries.
 


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