Coolant level constantly falls but NO LEAKS.

[whtefbrd96]

For the past few monthes i have been having a problem with my coolant level going down ill add about a 1/4-1/2 gallon each time about once every 1 or 2 weeks. but the problem is i have no HOSE leaks i have drove my car came home parked it over cardboard no drips, let its rum for 10-15 minutes till the gauge gets up to 190-200 no drips. But i have been noticing steam coming out from under the hood on my 2 mile trip to work in the mornings. So i am guessing that it is the intake manifold gasket cause i see some what looks to be coolant sitting on top on the heads. I was wondering if maybe it leaks just until the motor warms up and eveything expands and seals itself?? since it is a cast iron block with aluminum manifold. is there anywere else coolant could be escaping from that i have overlooked ?? i ordered valve cover gaskets and intake manifold gasket from summit should be here by friday i plan on doing it saturday and/or sunday. If anyone has any advice it would be greatley appreciated.

[pgriffith]

do you see white smoke coming from the exhaust?

[stagen]

Drain for oila nd check for water and hope you don't see any. But do check it.

[Kelly Rosato]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by stagen:
Drain for oil and check for water and hope you don't see any. But do check it.<hr></blockquote>

If you've got a blown head gasket you'll get white smoke or in some instances, sweet smelling exhaust. If you have a leak in the water jacket or otherpassage, your oil will have a light brown milkshake consistency.

Good luck.

[strobhen]

start the car up at night and get a bright light

let it run until it warms up, and you should see steam -- rev it a little if you need to

use the strong light to trace the steam back to the source (very hard to do in daylight, easy at night w/ a good light)

I bet you are leaking onto a manifold or the block or something else hot and the coolant is just burning off -- which is why there isn't any on the ground.

Until you get it fixed, keep your resivour well stocked w/ water & dex-cool.

[chas]

look under the water pump with the car running after a short trip sometime (the engine needs to get to temp and pressure built up in the coolant system). there is a weep hole (for the seals on the pump) at the bottom of the pump that can leak slowly enough that you wont see a puddle (doesnt leak when the car isnt running). had this on another vehicle.

[whtefbrd96]

I change my oil every 3000 and never have seen any coolant in the oil. White smoke i havent seen either. But i am gonna go do the light thing right now thanks strohben good tip.
::Edit:: I just went outside and looked for steam but couldnt find any i could only get the temp up to 180 though its like 15 outside i even turned on the ac BRRRRRR so i guess i will just say f it and go ahead and tear into it and replace all those gaskets up there ONE OF EM IS LEAKING and if i change them all im bound to get the one that is. So any tips on taking off the intake manifold. I have a book like a chilton but i cant think of the name right now and it gave some in depth instructions but anyone w/ personal experience chime in at ANYTIME

[ January 22, 2003: Message edited by: whtefbrd96 ]</p>

[1BadAzzGT]

You can buy a tester at any local parts store that will check for oil in your antifreeze. Also, next oil change look at your oil very closely and see if there is any signs/traces of antifree in it.

Could be a seeping head gasket. Is the car running hot or abnormally "warm"?

Also I've found that another good thing to do is to actually flush all of the coolant out and then ensure that you get all of the air out of the system.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Tim

[12secondv6]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by chas:
look under the water pump with the car running after a short trip sometime (the engine needs to get to temp and pressure built up in the coolant system). there is a weep hole (for the seals on the pump) at the bottom of the pump that can leak slowly enough that you wont see a puddle (doesnt leak when the car isnt running). had this on another vehicle.<hr></blockquote>

Exactly!!
I had this happen to me.
A very small amount of coolant leaked out but due to under hood temps it always evaporated.
I drove around like this for a long time, 2-3 months?
Jack the car up and crawl under.
Look by the water pump (underneath it) for any kind of weird residue

[whtefbrd96]

i will check that but i am still alarmed that i can see antifreeze on the TOP of the heads like if i look in between the intake manifold and valve covers i can see antifreeze.....

[Jack]

When my waterpump was leaking out the weepholes...it would be blown back up on the engine. OI was the waterpump, it drove me crazy, my coolant was going away but was never found in my driveway, where I parked at work, but I finally did trace it to the waterpump. If it is the waterpump, it will only get worse.