• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

disappearing coolant, over heating

john cola

john cola

New member
I am going through coolant like crazy...probably a gallon a week...it's not going on the ground. I can see it's a little wet where the elbows are and I plan to change them, but my God it's gotta be something else. Head gasket? has anyone ever changed theirs? is it possible to do on your own? after the engine is running for 7 minutes the heat sky rockets to 235-240 degrees, yet the radiator cap is relatively cool to the touch and the upper radiator hose isn't unusually hot.
 


if the elbows are wet change them, and then change your thermostat and top it off and bleed it.

what engine do you have?

i also just found my rad cap looks to be failing, my over flow is always full to the point of over flowing. im changing that tomorrow. and im also losing coolant. but not on the ground from the engine or rad. ill know in the next few days if the new cap fixes my coolant loss.
 
3800 series two supercharged (2000 gtp). sure hope it's just elbows and thermostat. just watched a video on intake gaskets. doesn't look like fun.
 


Sounds like your lim gaskets are toast. Ive done them on the same engine in my 97 grand prix and I Just bought a 97 Buick with the same engine so Im doing them again in a matter of weeks. The Buick is doing the same guzzling yours is.

If you end up needing lim gaskets check out my thread in my profile. its kinda like lim gaskets for noobs but its got parts lists and a ton of great forum feedback.
 
I like all the "sounds like" posts. Those sound like....people are guessing. Not giving you guys a hard time..but how can you diagnose this without asking some basic questions?

The hose/rad cap are cool becuase you don't have coolant to warm them up with the engine running. Which would make your temp rise. A gallon a week is a lot. Easy way to test if it's a gasket is to pressure test the system. Many parts stores have the loaner tools for this.

LIM gaskets would have a hard time swallowing that much coolant with it either filling the oil pan (noticed quickly when the bearings are shot) or the motor would have to burn it. That much coolant would cause a skip or very poorly running motor. Pulling your plugs would show you which cylinder is burning it. It's the one with the super clean plug.

Head gaskets, possible, very unlikely. Most people that pull these heads for gaskets find something else as their cause. I would do a bunch of testing first.

Side tanks on the radiators. I realize you said you see no leaking. Side tanks are tricky little buggers to diagnose and often the leak isn't seen as a puddle on the ground. The plastic goes through so many heat cycles it cracks..then only leaks when it's hot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top