Tonight I noticed a little bit of coolant missing from my rad. I filled up the rad to the top. It took about 1.5 to 2 liters of coolant to fill. I let the car run for about 20 to 40mins or until the coolant fan went for 3 cycles. The coolant level stayed normal while we were waiting for the car to heat up...

I'm just wondering why the rad wasn't full when I opened the rad cap. There are absolutely no leaks anywhere around the motor, its completely bone dry. My friend started to smell coolant when he took my car for the day and that's when i checked the coolant level in the rad...

Any idea's on why this happened? Your reponses are greatly appreciated...

Thx for look'n

 

if you don't smell it outside the car then turn the heater on defrost and if your window fogs its probably the heater core.

 

I had the heater on defrost on the windshield while the car was warming up and after, it didn't fog up....

any other suggestions?

 

My original raidiator had a hairline crack on the plastic inlet/output piece near the top.
the crack was barely noticable. It was right in front of the radiator hose.


Modified by Seahawk at 6:35 PM 10/5/2006

 

I'll check that.....thx..

any other suggestions on what it could be?

 

If you can smell it you have a leak somewhere. Take a small inspection mirror and check the under side of the thermostat housing and the goose neck. You might have to pressurize the system to find the leak. You can get a coolant system pressure tester from almost any parts store. Just pump the system up to its max pressure and start looking for the leaks. the leek could be in a spot that you just can't see without a mirror or having the system under pressure

 

cool, thx I'll try that...

Would it be possible that coolant is getting into the block/head? I did notice some white smoke last week when I changed the oil...not a lot though...

 

Q -What can cause white smoke from the exhaust?

A- White smoke: White smoke is caused by water and or antifreeze entering the cylinder, and the engine trying to burn it with the fuel. The white smoke is steam. There are special gaskets (head gaskets are the primary gaskets) that keep the antifreeze from entering the cylinder area. The cylinder is where the fuel and air mixture are being compressed and burned. Any amount of antifreeze that enters this area will produce a white steam that will be present at the tailpipe area.

If white smoke is present, check to see if the proper amount of antifreeze is inside the radiator and the overflow bottle. Also check to see if antifreeze has contaminated the engine oil. You can look at the engine oil dipstick, or look at the under side of the engine oil filler cap. If the oil is contaminated with antifreeze, it will have the appearance of a chocolate milkshake. Do not start the engine if the oil is contaminated with antifreeze, as serious internal engine damage can result.

How did antifreeze get in the oil or cylinder in the first place? The engine probably overheated and a head gasket failed due to excessive heat, thus allowing antifreeze to enter the cylinder (Where it is not meant to be).

 

Most likely you have a combustion leak. When engine is cold, open the radiator cap and see if bubble. combustion is leaking in to coolant system.