The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

[jsdomino]

I have a 2001 Camaro, 3.8L V6 that is losing anti-freeze about every 150-200 miles (add about 1 QT). I cannot detect a leak, no spots, drips or smell that I notice.

Since noticing the problem, I flushed the system and refilled with new DEx-COOL. I also replaced the radiator cap. Still seems to be leaking.

Any ideas on how to locate leak? Am I ready for Stop-Leak or a radiator shop?

[slow6]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

no white exhaust smoke?
did you have dex-cool in it before?

[Cyborg]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

Ive had this problem recently too.

I cant put much in at one given time, so I havnt been TOO worried about it.

I cant see any visible leaks, and dont have white smoke after warmup. My oil level hasnt gone up at all, and it isnt milky.

[BLLDOGG]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

if you have white smoke at start up that goes away after a little while, probably a small coolant leak into your cylinders that finally burns off and you cant notice after that point since it wouldn't cause a lot of smoke.

[CDNFB]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

Not trying to be Dr. Doom here....but.

Only 4 ways to lose coolant:

1) from engine/component to ground (hoses, water pump, radiator, heater core, etc...)
2) from reservoir cap to ground (from air being pumped into cooling system from combustion chamber)
3) internal leak into the oil system (intake gaskets, head gasket, cracked block/head)
4) internal leak into the combustion chamber (and out of the exhaust) (intake gasket, head gasket, cracked block/head)

So far every car that I've encountered with the syptoms that you described needed the head gaskets replaced.

The lastest one was the father-in-laws Caddy STS. For years it would consume a quart of antifreeze every 1000 k miles or so. with no apparent traces of internal or external leaks or white exhaust. Then this spring the engine temps started to fluctuate. Changed the gaskets this summer and that fixed the problem.

[CamaroRSZ28SS]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

isnt DEX-Cool anti-freeze not good for your car? is it that orange colored A-F?

[BLLDOGG]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

yes it is the orange coolant and no it is not bad for your car.

If you don't believe me, Call a GM Engineer who has at least a bachelors degree in automotive engineering and probably makes well over 100K a year.

[CamaroRSZ28SS]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

*calls GM* he said your full of it. Just kidding.

I only asked because my friend had a 98 Blazer that used that anti-freeze, his car was overheating and the mechanics told him that that anti-freeze was causing problems. We even did a search on that A-F and it brought up a website with a boatload of people saying the same thing.


Here's a site with people having problems with that A-F.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html

[BLLDOGG]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

i know, i have seen that sight

[shock_core]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

well, it's only a problem if you beleive that it'll last 150k miles or 5 years. if you replace it every year you shouldn't have a problem.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

Intake manifold gasket

[3.4 slow to go]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

do you have an auto or stick? if auto, check your tranny fluid for the evil stuff, and coolant for some foam floating bby the rad cap.

[crushedout]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

Intake manifold gasket

X2

dex-cool=:bs:

[Rob Bell]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

My dex cool still looks brand new after 4 years/40K miles. I will still change it though, either next year or the year after, when I reach 50K. At that time I'll replace the hoses too. After reading about all the issues, I just check it a couple times a year to make sure it still looks good.

I think that as long as you (1) don't mix green and red, and (2) maintain your cooling system properly, it works fine.

[bradmb]

Re: The Case of the Missing Anti-Freeze

if you have white smoke at start up that goes away after a little while, probably a small coolant leak into your cylinders that finally burns off and you cant notice after that point since it wouldn't cause a lot of smoke.

hmm. every few weeks ill start my car up and a puff of white smoke comes from the tail pipe. but only right when it cranks. it this a problem?