Coolant leak without dripping

[borispeed]

About every two or three weeks I'm adding water to the radiator since is loosing about 2 inches of coolant (That's what I can see when I remove the cap). However there's no dripping on the floor, and I am not seeing stains at the hoses, or the radiator. But after running the engine, there's a coolant smelling.

[LarryMow]

Re: Coolant leak without dripping

It may be leaking from the weephole on the back of the waterpump. Check that.

[IDoVoodoo]

Re: Coolant leak without dripping

also, check your oil for coolant

[Smoke Panther]

Re: Coolant leak without dripping

check your oil for coolant

yea, i'd skip the second post and pull the dipstick or open the oil port to see if the oil's breaking down

[CDNFB]

Re: Coolant leak without dripping

Is the coolant smell comming from the exhaust, or from the immediate area of the engine bay?

[borispeed]

Re: Coolant leak without dripping

yea, i'd skip the second post and pull the dipstick or open the oil port to see if the oil's breaking down

The oil looks normal.

[borispeed]

Re: Coolant leak without dripping

Is the coolant smell comming from the exhaust, or from the immediate area of the engine bay?

After running the engine and open the hood, the smell is coming fast and disappear. When I try to find out where's that smell it goes out. This is a little misterious. I been thinking probably there's a leak in the radiator, below the air lid.

[CDNFB]

Re: Coolant leak without dripping

I'm assuming you have a 3800.

If you using dex-cool as the coolant (as I am), I noticed that even with the smallest of leaks, and I'm talking small, little drops here, that the leaked dex-cool comes in contact with anything hot it will slowly evaporate or boil (depending on how hot the surface that it is contact with) and produce a very noticeable smell. Man I can smell the smallest amounts from quite a ways away.

Smelled the dex-cool comming from under the hood of a 05 caddy STS, spent so much time looking for that leak. Wasn't leaking onto the gound or anything, but sure could smell it. Drove me nuts. Finally found the upper rad hose, where it routes under the radiator shroud had a small pin hole, only big enough for the coolant to sweat out drop by drop. Replaced the hose and the smell went away!

But more current to you, check the water pump like larrymo suggests, but also look at the thermostat bypass elbow. Its a small plastic elbow that is located on the front of the engine, right where the thermostat is, and connects to the belt tensioner body. They are notorious for cracking and leaking on the 3800s. To get a really good look at it you can use an inspection mirror and flashlight to see if there are any traces of coolant leaking from and collecting in the area.

[borispeed]

Re: Coolant leak without dripping

I'll do it. Thanks for your help.

[99RedDragonCamaro]

Re: Coolant leak without dripping

I bet its the lower intake manifold gasket. Its dripping onto your head and burning off real quick.

Apparently mine was leaking for the longest time and I didn't know. I was having to top off about a quart or so everytime I got an oil change. No signs of leaking either, just like you.

Go get a pressure test done. They are pretty cheap and it'll tell whether or not you have a leak.

If it turns out to be the lower intake gasket leaking I hope you have a buddy that can do some work for you because it will cost a pretty penny to have it done at a shop.

Good luck bro.

-Beav