Alright....

the car - 99 cx

the engine - b18b1 (78k)

the problem - coolant level drops after driving

there is absolutly NO smoke coming from my exaust or my gaskets. however there is a very very obvious smell inside the car and under the hood while engine is running. i dont know if the smell is burning gas, oil or coolant, but its there. the coolant in the resevoir will even fall maybe an inch after driving for just a few minutes, maybe 7 miles. it will continue to fall until it reaches just above the "min" line on the resevoir.

i would love to be able to avoid having to tear the engine apart just to see that in fact it was not my head gasket that was causing the problem. Does anybody have any suggestions of what i need to do before i get someone to replace the head gasket ?

it is worth noting that i retained my stock radiator when i did my swap and i haven't seen a single leak under the hood although i will be doing a thorough inspection tonight when i adjust my valves. Thanks fellas.

p.s. - if someone guesses the problem i will paypal you five bucks

 

mine drops to above the min line and stays there but i dont have the smell.

the smell of coolant is a sweet smell. you will know it or have a chick smell it. if she says it smells like flowers, its coolant.

im betting its just when under pressure of warm temps, it slips out somewhere little at a time so its unnoticeable.

 

have you checked for leaks everywhere?is your carpet wet on the passenger floorboard?
do a leakdown test to see if it is the headgasket.
how old is your radiator cap?when they get old the spring weakens and won't hold pressure anymore.
Chris

 

<u>IT'S PROBABLY YOUR HEATER CORE</u>.

And I don't need money. It's a bitch of a job, though, so I suggest putting the $5 towards some sort of hard alcohol to take the edge off .

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><u>IT'S PROBABLY YOUR HEATER CORE</u>.</TD></TR></TABLE>

oh noes

that's what i was thinking as well - but it's only a 99. now that it's summer i wouldn't even bother with it. just loop the two hoses together, and spend the three months ripping everything out

 

Without seeing the car I would hav eto go with "heater core"....and yeah, its a frigging nightmare job.


Don't take it as gospel truth though....keep in mind that we are all just guessing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by xEnderx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Don't take it as gospel truth though....keep in mind that we are all just guessing.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not. I can read minds and see the future.

 

Mine was doing the same thing and i couldnt find it either. Look at the lines that are to the left of the intake mani. That is where my leak ended up being.

Good Luck. I hope it is something minor like it was for me

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crazysol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Look at the lines that are to the left of the intake mani. I hope it is something minor like it was for me</TD></TR></TABLE>

that location is where i have been placing most of my concentration. And thanks for the hope.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TeamNextGenChris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">have you checked for leaks everywhere?is your carpet wet on the passenger floorboard?
do a leakdown test to see if it is the headgasket.
how old is your radiator cap?when they get old the spring weakens and won't hold pressure anymore.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The floorboard is dry as Hell and my rad cap is stock from 96. Will replace tomorrow. I don't have the first ******* idea what a leakdown test is. Please Please explain. Thank you.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><u>IT'S PROBABLY YOUR HEATER CORE</u>.</TD></TR></TABLE>

how can i tell if it is my heater core ? And.......

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so I suggest putting the $5 towards some sort of hard alcohol to take the edge off .</TD></TR></TABLE>

always

thanks everyone i hope it ends up being something cheap. Only car to get me to and from school and work

 

Also, check the exhaust section right behind the intake manifold (under it, obviously) for signs of white or green residue from coolant falling on it from the intake mani area.

 

will do

 

bumpo

 

bump b4 bed nukkas

 

do a compression check and see if your loosing compression in any of your cylinders.

 

well well well the problem is fixed *******. i am too embarrased to tell you the reason but lets just say that it was simple. So simple it was overlooked.

 

Clamps are bitches right!

 

clamps or drain plugs lol

that or his rad cap wasnt on all the way

what else could it be.. hmm yeah clamps.. rad rain.. uhm.... i dono something like that lol