coolant disappears and there r no leaks!

[knight7]

v6 3.8 firebird. After every 8 or 9 days, i have to put more coolant to maintain the temerature gauge. Otherwise it keeps saying "check gauges" and the temperature needle reaches the red line. After a few minutes, the check gauges sign goes away and temp needle goes back to normal. This happens only when i am out of coolant and which i think is normal. The problem is that it only lasts for 7-9 days. In advance, i will tell you that it is totally leak proof. I have checked my car several times and i am seeing no leaks. If anyone knows the solution, please write and all ideas are welcomed. Thankyou

[Philo]

Originally Posted by knight7

v6 3.8 firebird. After every 8 or 9 days, i have to put more coolant to maintain the temerature gauge. Otherwise it keeps saying "check gauges" and the temperature needle reaches the red line. After a few minutes, the check gauges sign goes away and temp needle goes back to normal. This happens only when i am out of coolant and which i think is normal. The problem is that it only lasts for 7-9 days. In advance, i will tell you that it is totally leak proof. I have checked my car several times and i am seeing no leaks. If anyone knows the solution, please write and all ideas are welcomed. Thankyou

The anti-freeze mixture is going somewhere. If you are loosing that much (over a gallon a week), it should be obvious. I would say to check your oil for anti-freeze, but if you had that much in the oil you would know it already. The next thing I would check is tailpipe - for liquid (steam) going out even after the engine is warmed up. Also, since the anti-freeze mixture won't burn, rough running. Until you find the 'leak', I would add some anti-freeze every couple of days - first to protect your engine, because going to the temperature redline is not good, and second to see the exact amount you are loosing. You could check the loss by miles driven for instance.

I had a 64 Buick with that problem. A rel gave it to me because of the leak. I pulled the (aluminum) heads and found that one head had a defect, and was leaking anti-freeze into one cylinder. A new (junkyard) head and gasket fixed it.

[knight7]

yea sometimes, small amount of liquid comes out of the exhaust pipe, but i thought this was normal. Also, i hope your talking about engine coolant and not antifreeze for the windshield cleaning. I always buy the more expensive one that costs like $10,the durex one for all Gm. On air filter cover, it says that coolant will burn off quickly if wrong one goes in to it. Any more help will be appreciated.
This is a little off topic but i will ask anyways. Is it true that if you replace your radiator cap with a low pressure cap, it helps the temperature to stay constant. Also, how does the thermostat work?

[doodad]

Go to GM dealer and get a new cap.. you have a bad cap probably and it steams and you lose antifreeze.. also definetely rebleed the system and get the all air aut of the system..

you said there is no leak.. and l guess your car doesnt have enough antifreexe and there is air in the system.. fill the coolant tank, fill the radiator, rebleed the system and put the new cap. and drive it for a while, first u will see the engine goes hot but when the coolant goes all over the system, gauge will drop down..

anout termostat, it is so cheap and you can do it yourself.. l have no idea where the watepump is on v-6 engines but believe me termostat is so easy to replace..

(i hope this will solve the problem)

Erdal

[knight7]

So, are u saying that i should flush the radiator with water to get the air out? Then after that i should put coolant/antifreeze in? But, i dont get the air part. How does air get in to the radiator? Sorry but i am learning ..
Yes i bought the radiator cap and a new thermostat. thnx

[doodad]

Originally Posted by knight7

So, are u saying that i should flush the radiator with water to get the air out? Then after that i should put coolant/antifreeze in? But, i dont get the air part. How does air get in to the radiator? Sorry but i am learning ..
Yes i bought the radiator cap and a new thermostat. thnx

l didnt say water.. there should be a goes from radiaotor to waterpump, u can loose that hose.. when the car is running, loose that hose and you will see water will sprayand come out of there and right away tight it back and air will be gone. but first fill the coolant tank and radiator with 50/50 coolant.. then rebleed it and then you should be fine. but if there is a leak which u cant see, then l cant say nothing.. if there is no leak, then probably my advice will fix your problem, because it fixed mine..

by the way, l am learning too and l know nothing about cars..

Erdal

[karll]

Originally Posted by doodad

by the way, l am learning too and l know nothing about cars..

hmm, that's a little disconcerting.

[skibum1111]

Make sure the system is full. Start the car with the pressure cap off, add coolant as necessary. You should be able to let your car idle with the cap off until the fans turn on without loosing any coolant. It's normal for air to burp out if you have air in the cooling system. Keep it full, coolant shouldn't flow out if everything is ok. If your car overheats quickly, you have either a clog in the cooling system, a huge air pocket (very likely) or a gasket/head/block problem.

[doodad]

Originally Posted by karll

hmm, that's a little disconcerting.

well, l know some little things but if u compare about knowing cars.. l am seriously do not know about cars and here everyone knows.. but learning qucikly tho..

[knight7]

I will try that tomorrow after i get home from w0rk and then i have to change the alternator as well. I will post a reply after i do what you guys said. Hopefully, this solves out the problem. Thanx everyone though

[83T/A98Blazer]

If you are losing coolant on a regular basis like that you have a leak somewhere. If there is no external leak it is more than likely either the intake gasket or a head gasket. Have you checked underneath the car? Sometimes when the intake gasket leaks you can not see the fluid unless you get under and look at the bottom, it may even look like it's dripping from the tranny. Another thing to check is the water pump. You will have to get underneath the car and look up at the bottom of the pump with a light. There is a "pee" hole on the bottom of it that the fluid will leak out of when the seal goes bad. It normally leaks from there while the car is hot and running, you won't see it leaking out, but it will be wet or stained around the hole.

[knight7]

I didnt get time to fix the radiator problem but i installed the new alternator and a new belt with double cuts. This fairly took me an hour and half.
I have noticed another thing that i thought i should mention regarding the radiator. When the car is on, the tailpipe does give a very strong smell.
I also bought a thermostat and a pcv valve today. These will be installed tomorrow becuz its gonna be a sunny day . Please list any precautions that i should take when installin the thermostat and pcv valve. Also, a quick over review of how to install these two wont hurt. Thanks a lot guys.

[2000LS1Z28]

Originally Posted by knight7

I didnt get time to fix the radiator problem but i installed the new alternator and a new belt with double cuts. This fairly took me an hour and half.
I have noticed another thing that i thought i should mention regarding the radiator. When the car is on, the tailpipe does give a very strong smell.
I also bought a thermostat and a pcv valve today. These will be installed tomorrow becuz its gonna be a sunny day . Please list any precautions that i should take when installin the thermostat and pcv valve. Also, a quick over review of how to install these two wont hurt. Thanks a lot guys.

Well that strong odor is coolant burning on your tailpipe. There's either a leak on a line or your water pump. It's good that you are replacing your thermostat, as those have a tendency to go out. That along with the radiator cap will help the longevity of your car. I have a feeling its your water pump. How many miles are on your car, and how long has it been since you changed your water pump?

[83T/A98Blazer]

If you smell it coming out of the rear tailpipe, you are burning it. Either your intake or head gaskets are leaking. Is it a sweet smell? You should be able to tell if it smells like coolant.

[knight7]

hey doodad.. she's got 62k and water pump has never been changed. The odor is a very strong one and sometimes some type of liquid drips down from the exhaust tips. It looks like water. Personally, i do not think its a sweet smell. Its prolly concentrated CO.
I just spent about $250 repairing the car for problems and now this water pump! .