Auxilery tank water level indication

[ibelta]

Hello again, need your help./
On my 98 LaSabre, I am loosing water and don’t know it since there is no warning on the Dashboard for “water level”.
How can I add one, or what car should I look for in the junk yard that may have similar size of auxiliary tank with the sensor (I think I know how to deal with the electric part)??
Thanks

[HotZ28]

Not to avoid your initial question, but if you are loosing coolant, you need to find out why and fix the leak. It could be the infamous upper manifold leak and the coolant is being ingested into the engine. (Bad news) Even if the leak is external, it needs to be fixed before it runs hot while on the road and leaves you stranded. It is not a good idea to use water in the overflow tank, always use a 50-50 mix of coolant/water.

I don’t recall seeing a separate coolant light for the overflow tank, on the Buick Lesabre. Most of them do have a coolant level indicator in the radiator, to offer low coolant notification before you get low enough to cause an engine to overheat. If all leaks are stopped, there should be no need to check the overflow tank, except during routine maintenance intervals. (3-months or 3000 miles). I normally raise the hood on my car at least once a week, to check everything, regardless of whether it had a problem or not. It just makes good sense!

[ibelta]

Originally Posted by HotZ28

Not to avoid your initial question, but if you are loosing coolant, you need to find out why and fix the leak. It could be the infamous upper manifold leak and the coolant is being ingested into the engine. (Bad news) Even if the leak is external, it needs to be fixed before it runs hot while on the road and leaves you stranded. It is not a good idea to use water in the overflow tank, always use a 50-50 mix of coolant/water.

I don’t recall seeing a separate coolant light for the overflow tank, on the Buick Lesabre. Most of them do have a coolant level indicator in the radiator, to offer low coolant notification before you get low enough to cause an engine to overheat. If all leaks are stopped, there should be no need to check the overflow tank, except during routine maintenance intervals. (3-months or 3000 miles). I normally raise the hood on my car at least once a week, to check everything, regardless of whether it had a problem or not. It just makes good sense!

Thanks, you are right but on the Chev Lumina, they have this sensor so I was wondering if there is a way to add one (the Lumina tank is diff than mine)
BTW, I do not see the oil level going up if that is what you mean

[imidazol97]

You may have leaks at other places than the upper intake manifold (UIM), let's hope. There's always the water pump, hose connections for heater lines and radiator lines and there's the end caps of the radiator where the tanks connect to the tubes through the fins across the radiator.

But you do want to do something to determine which it is. Overheating due to low coolant is bad and having coolant from the UIM leaking into the motor is especially bad. If it's leaking externally that shows up under the throttle body connection to the upper intake manifold.

The water pump may be found if after parking the car when it's been run and thoroughly warmed up and then looking up under the water pump pulley with a mirror and flashlight looking for the telltale signs of the colorant from the coolant. Sometimes you might even find a drip after it's leaking fast enough.

Check where the heater hoses connect to the motor and into the firewall by rubbing with your finger along the underside looking for wetness.

And there's an elbow on some intake manifolds that may start leaking. . right between the base of the alternator mount and the ignition coils. It's black plastic.

How many miles on your car and how much history do you know about what has been done it?

[ibelta]

Originally Posted by imidazol97

You may have leaks at other places than the upper intake manifold (UIM), let's hope. There's always the water pump, hose connections for heater lines and radiator lines and there's the end caps of the radiator where the tanks connect to the tubes through the fins across the radiator.

But you do want to do something to determine which it is. Overheating due to low coolant is bad and having coolant from the UIM leaking into the motor is especially bad. If it's leaking externally that shows up under the throttle body connection to the upper intake manifold.

The water pump may be found if after parking the car when it's been run and thoroughly warmed up and then looking up under the water pump pulley with a mirror and flashlight looking for the telltale signs of the colorant from the coolant. Sometimes you might even find a drip after it's leaking fast enough.

Check where the heater hoses connect to the motor and into the firewall by rubbing with your finger along the underside looking for wetness.

And there's an elbow on some intake manifolds that may start leaking. . right between the base of the alternator mount and the ignition coils. It's black plastic.

How many miles on your car and how much history do you know about what has been done it?

It had water pump change recently. I do not see any other leaks, I just replaced the original Radiator cup that looks too old (rubber looks not good).
The car has 140K

[chubbygoatboy]

Lower intake gasket has most likely failed. Usually, it is a small enough leak that you never see it. It evaporates fairly quickly, until it gets worse!!