94 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Steaming

[Slooowlearner]

My '94 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme had Steam coming up through the vents in the car. The temperature gauge was reading normal. I only drove short distances and did not encounter traffic. When parked all the coolant would drain out of the overflow tank. I would refill the overflow tank beyond the radiator level and the coolant would drain into the radiator. I eventually saw a very slight water leak on the right front side of the car that became a more significant leak as the engine got hotter. This is not the same side as the overflow tank.

I began to turn the heater on during these short trips to draw the heat out of the engine. When I took it to a mechanic, he could see a leak beneath the car from the heater core. It was completely bypassed, but the problem of the steam and the right front leak remained. The radiator was replaced. The coolant no longer drains from the car, but it still produces STEAM and what appears to be a leak from somewhere can be seen from the lower right front.

The mechanic is stumped. Today, I idled the car at 2500 RPM's for 5 mins. The temperature gauge read under 200, but the car was producing steam and leaking from the right front.

The main fan is working. The AC fan is not working. The mechanic says the hoses seem in good condition.

Can anyone offer advice?

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF. From here, it is a difficult diagnosis.. Could be a freeze out plug or external hd gasket, or one of many hose connections.. Usual technique is to pressue test the system or add coolant tracer dye to pinpoint the source, all of this should be part of your mechanics diagnostic procedure.

[Slooowlearner]

Thank-you for the quick reply. The mechanic did pressure test the system multiple times and saw no leaks. What is bugging him is that the leak seems to be water - not coolant. A family member had also mentioned a freeze plug possibility and I will once again pass that along to the mechanic. I know this will be difficult - just hoping someone might recognize these symptoms. I really love my car and keep up with all maintenance.

[maxwedge]

If in fact it is water not coolant. Could be the ac drain tube under the evap case dripping on the exhaust pipe?