Where is my coolant going?

[Mike Kopstain]

This one is classic SHO...

With the engine running, the coolant system bled, and the resivour full, everything is good and I can drive the car for an hour if I want and that resivour will be just as full as soon as I shut the car off.

If I come back the next morning, the resivour is empty, but there is no coolant on the ground. The oil is fine and there is absolutely no smoke out of the exhaust... This car is laughing at me on the inside.

Any thoughts?

<small>[ August 18, 2003, 01:20 AM: Message edited by: Mikeys_Taurus ]</small>

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Mikeys_Taurus:
This car is laughing at me on the inside.

lol

I say get down and dirty and threaten it with snake oils... maybe it will crack

On a serious note, have you noticed any smells while driving? Coolant might be sneeking it's way to the exhaust and burning off.

Also, is this a repeating scenerio? because it typically takes 3-4 attempts to purge the system of air bubbles after a good coolant system flush.

 

[shotimev6]

i think i saw one of those africanized asian monkeys at your house around 3 am under the hood of the sho. i was gonna stop but i knew you were hard at work. i think thats the problem.... shrug

 

[Mike Kopstain]

NotSoSlowSHO:

Mikeys_Taurus:
This car is laughing at me on the inside.

lol

I say get down and dirty and threaten it with snake oils... maybe it will crack

On a serious note, have you noticed any smells while driving? Coolant might be sneeking it's way to the exhaust and burning off.

Also, is this a repeating scenerio? because it typically takes 3-4 attempts to purge the system of air bubbles after a good coolant system flush.

It's happened to me 4 times since I "though" I had the system bled.

Conversly, the coolant overflow bottle is bubbling with the engine running, yet compression is good and vacuum readings are good also... Perhaps it's a one way leak, but boy is that an odd one.

Additionally, It will stay full as long as the motor is running. You can take it out and beat it up and it will stay full. Come back 8 hours later and the resivour is empty. No trace of coolant in the exhaust.

<small>[ August 18, 2003, 02:29 AM: Message edited by: Mikeys_Taurus ]</small>

 

[Frankiek3]

Im sorry I stole ur coolant 3 times laughing
I was out and need some shrug
The other times were not me i swear
(blame Knomes, or even Canada)

 

[olympic]

Conversly, the coolant overflow bottle is bubbling with the engine running.

That's generally a tell tale sign of a blown head gasket. The coolant is getting burned off in the combustion chamber while driving. Then when you park and the engine cools, the system refills itself by drawing in coolant from the resevoir.

The leak is probably small right now so coolant ony gets into the cylinders when the car is hot and the coolant system pressure is high. There won't be a significant amount of steam out the exhaust becasue it's summer and hot outside. On a cool fall day you'd see alot more.

My only suggestion is to pull the plugs and see if any of them have white deposits or look steam cleaned. A cylinder leak down test would also be useful.

 

[projectSHO89]

A cooling system pressure test would also be helpful.

A bad radiator cap will also cause the bubbling but I would strongly lean towards the previous comments as to a head gasket.

You'd think somone with a 3.8 would know a lot about HG failures.

Steve

<small>[ August 18, 2003, 11:34 AM: Message edited by: projectSHO89 ]</small>

 

[Mike Kopstain]

projectSHO89:
A cooling system pressure test would also be helpful.

A bad radiator cap will also cause the bubbling but I would strongly lean towards the previous comments as to a head gasket.

You'd think somone with a 3.8 would know a lot about HG failures.

Steve

The cooling system checks out. It holds pressure, which is odd, because the cap doesn't. There is no trace of oil in the coolant and no trace of coolant in the oil. The engine has had a leak down test and passes fine.

Bryce, now that you mention it, the # 4 cylinder did have a white deposit on the top of it, but otherwise looked like it was run rich, like all the other plugs did. I doubt I've had these new plugs in long enough to notice anything. My brain knows it's a head gasket. It's my wallet that is questioning everyone.

Steve... I wouldn't own that turd of a motor (3.8) if you paid me. Vulcan for like man! I'm insulted, but I'll let it slide this time.

<small>[ August 18, 2003, 12:55 PM: Message edited by: Mikeys_Taurus ]</small>

 

[ChitownA34DR]

Mikey my SHO did this. Driver side hair crack would open when heated up and under heavy throttle shoot coolant out of the crack. It passed compression because it only opens under heavy load and under extreme heat. I beleieve the crack was in the plastic endtank on the radiator right at the very top under the first fold if my memory serves me correctly.

<small>[ August 18, 2003, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: SmOkE93SHO ]</small>