notch on the coolant tube opening right under cap

[sleepyhead]

Now I develop some "good" habbits to visit the forum more often and "inspect" things under the hood of my windstar with untrained eyes. (p.s, I am learning: I attended a classic cruisers show today and was so glad that I can tell what is what under the hood from the grandpa's cars of pride).

I noticed my coolant level can drop dramatically from cool full mark to the very bottom of the reservoir even just one hour trip after the coolant (50/50 diluted) is added at or sligtly above the cool full line. Today I spotted a notch at the opening of the reservoir. It looks like un-natural and rough, but like someone has cut it on purpose. I wonder whether that notch can contribute to the level drop. I shall also let you know: 1. The engine has been running okay, needle of temp meter points to the middle of cold and hot. 2. I had a coolant flush by Firestone half year ago. 3. There is no, absolute no leakage of coolant, or any other kind of fluid to the ground.

Question: what will happen if I tape the notch up? Will that solve the problem?

[sahib]

Are you saying you have to fill coolant resevoir to "cool full" line after each trip or is the resevoir bottoming out and then coming back to proper level after cool down?

[sleepyhead]

I should have made it clearer. There is a great volume loss after the first trip with coolant filled up to cool full mark. The liquid level would never come back or close to full mark. If I do not fill it after the first trip, the engine runs fine at reasonable temperature, but gradually the coolant level drops further till nearly invisible from the bottom of the reservoir. Since there is no obvious liquid leakage, I assume coolant vapor has gone away from that suspicious notch. But I am not sure what would happen if I seal off the reservoir completely. Would the interior pressure too high to make damage to the reservoir or other hoses?

[peter63north]

I was loosing coolant like you have mentioned. One place said it was a head gasket (big big $), but there was no coolant mixed with the oil. The intake gasket was replaced. They showed me the 'water jacket' and it was broken. Coolant gets into the cylinder and is just burnt up and out the exhaust. Since the intake gasket has been replaced (1 month ago) the coolant level in my 98 is staying up.