Coolant going somewhere.....

[please_pimp_my_rde]

I got a major problem... Low Coolant light keeps coming on, and I keep adding it. But heres the thing, its not leaking on to the ground, and I have no clue where its going. Also, its running rough if you let the car sit for a few hrs. Its like its not firing on all 4 cylinders, but one you feed it some gas, its fine. Speaking of gas, the MPG is terrible. I could normally go about 85-90 miles before it would burn 1/4 tank of gas, but now im only going about 50-60 before it burns 1/4 tank of gas. Before I take it to the stealership, any ideas on what the problem is? I wont mind geting my hands dirty, just as long as I don't have to tear down the motor to fix it....

99 GASE
2.4
142,354 miles so far....

[xeroinfinity]

You sure thiers no puddles under the car?

Hav you checked you oil for the coolant?

Just pull out the dip stick,
if it looks like chocolate milk,
then the engines probly going to be coming apart.

Good Luck

[please_pimp_my_rde]

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

You sure thiers no puddles under the car?

Hav you checked you oil for the coolant?

Just pull out the dip stick,
if it looks like chocolate milk,
then the engines probly going to be coming apart.

Good Luck

Im 100% sure there are no puddles under the car. The only puddle there is was from the a/c. But I did check the oil, and it don't look right at all. I know the diffrence between clean and dirty oil, but I honestly dunno what u wanna call it. Like you said, I kinda looks milky. Im gonna assume that this is bad news....

[skibum1111]

Xero is right, the motor is going to have to come apart. It's either a bad head or head gasket. If you are planning on doing this yourself keep in mind that the car will be disabled for a week or more. Once you get it apart have the head pressure tested and checked for trueness and shaved if necessary. Good luck, took me 2 days to do mine and I replaced the head.

[please_pimp_my_rde]

Originally Posted by skibum1111

Xero is right, the motor is going to have to come apart. It's either a bad head or head gasket. If you are planning on doing this yourself keep in mind that the car will be disabled for a week or more. Once you get it apart have the head pressure tested and checked for trueness and shaved if necessary. Good luck, took me 2 days to do mine and I replaced the head.

This sounds like something that im gonna have to leave to the dealer to do. I know if I even attempt it, i'll just make it worse. Is it really expensive to have fixed?

[skibum1111]

Crooks at the dealership here wanted $1100 in labor and around $400 in parts and I was supplying the head. Called a friend, did it at his garage, took all day saturday and half of sunday but the job got done right, it cost me a case of molson canadian. If you don't have friends like that start calling the independant garages, see what they charge for the job and check them out, see who your friends recommend.

[xeroinfinity]

Yes its a week end job if you havnt been in ther before.
Its better to take your time, and get it right

$800-1200 is about right at the dealershits.

Hell I'd do it for a case of molson canadian

[xeroinfinity]

I forgot, with a dealer you could wait a week if they hav trouble getting any parts (heads gaskets).

Good Luck

[please_pimp_my_rde]

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

Yes its a week end job if you havnt been in ther before.
Its better to take your time, and get it right

$800-1200 is about right at the dealershits.

Hell I'd do it for a case of molson canadian

Would you put more money into a car than whats its really worth? The reason im asking is because I only paid $3200 for the car, but have put well over $3000 into the car, and according to KBB, the car is only worth $2960 (thats giving it a "fair" rating.) You think its a good idea to sell this car while its still running and let some other sap deal with it?

[wushdishmeen]

This problem has nothing to do with the headgasket.

Coolant in your oil is due to the infamous LIM gasket. The poor design of the engines causes for excessive amounts of pressure on the gasket causing it to corrode and allow the coolant and oil to mix. This is why your oil looks milky and you can't find any leaks because it's leaking internally. If this is the case DO NOT drive the car, get it fixed because running the car with coolant in the oil can f' up your bearings meaning new motor.

If a shop does it you're probably looking at anywhere between $600-1000 work, but the actual parts you can snag for under $100 and that's getting the new updated felpro gaskets. The reason it costs alot at a shop is because it requires the labor of removing all the internals and gutting the externals to get to it.

Get some mechanics gloves and you can tackle this job following instructions in 8 hours. Spread it across a few days.


*however, now that i went back before rambling and saw you have a 2.4liter, you dont even have a lower intake i don't think. i just had the same problem on my 99 gt 3.4l and it was the lim gasket, i did it myself in 8 hours and saved hundreds. either case gutting the engine isnt that hard it requires patience and instructions.*

[xeroinfinity]

Sorry wushdishmeen, but we dont need to bring up thread older then 2-3 months.
And secondly the 2.4L doesnt have any problems with the LIM

If you need assistance then post your own thread.

and Welcome to AF!



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