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my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

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Old Aug 24, 2010 | 09:59 PM
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Icon6 my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

Hey i have a 89 accord lxi. I have to fill my radiator up every three or four days no leaks under my car at all. no leaks from the heater core. and no coolant in the oil. I took it to a mechanic and he said it would probably be the head gasket after awhile but it was fine for now. i have had a puff of white smoke one time in the morning so i am thinking of buying some of that head gasket sealer but im not sure how that stuff works but i dont think the gasket would be too bad right now after what the mechanic said so im hoping it will fill the little crack or whatever that is therre. My car is running very good still no loss of power i drive it everyday it only overheats when the raidiator is low which is when i forget to check lol but right when i get coolant in it the temp goes right back down. please let me know what u guys think thanks!!
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Old Aug 24, 2010 | 10:06 PM
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E-Rok's Avatar
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

check coolant hoses. My integra had a pinhole leak on a small hose on the head (forgot which one) and it would just steam out of that and run empty eventually. did a pressure test and found it.
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Old Aug 24, 2010 | 10:15 PM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

Why didn't your mechanic pressure test the system? If he pressure tests it and finds no leaks, change your radiator cap and see if the problem still occurs. (pressure test can't test cap).
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Old Aug 24, 2010 | 10:50 PM
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tazeat's Avatar
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

Check your cooling system.
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Old Aug 24, 2010 | 10:58 PM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

pressure test...
/thread.
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Old Aug 24, 2010 | 11:12 PM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

well, you're definitely in the right place
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Old Aug 24, 2010 | 11:25 PM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

Looks like GDD is on vacation.
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Old Aug 25, 2010 | 03:55 AM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

Its probably just putting fires out under the hood
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Old Aug 25, 2010 | 04:30 AM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

On an episode of Macgyver he used some eggs to stop a leak.
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Old Aug 25, 2010 | 10:28 AM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

im gonna do the pressure test thanks..
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Old Aug 25, 2010 | 04:19 PM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

Originally Posted by KYSI
On an episode of Macgyver he used some eggs to stop a leak.
Holy crap, I forgot all about that episode. Classic!!
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Old Aug 25, 2010 | 06:14 PM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

I have seen many head gasket leaks on those...A slow leak at the water pump weep hole may be a source of a leak when engine is cold and a pressure test may not pick up small leaks. Pull the plugs and look for a white one(insulator tip white and not tan or dark), white smoke is a possible indication of coolant in that cylinder but will sometimes cause a missfire when first started...just some ideas. Sometimes debris in the cooling system will plug the leak it self temporaraly...engine head stop leak is again, a temp fix.
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Old Aug 25, 2010 | 08:10 PM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

so do u think i should do the compression test yet or not? and why look at the white spark plug? and what do i look for?
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Old Aug 27, 2010 | 08:52 PM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

The insulator tip of the spark plug will be white and thats the hole thats burning coolant....
If you do a pressure test leave it under pressure for a while even overnight it may allow the coolant to be pushed into the cylinder even if its a small leak...

Compression test won't tell you anything much, you said it runs fine and has lots of power meaning the actual compression is ok.
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Old Aug 29, 2010 | 06:37 AM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

auto? if so you may be losing it through the tranny cooler
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Old Aug 29, 2010 | 06:46 PM
  #16  
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

Ya its a automatic. and how can u check if its leaking into the tranny cooler?
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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 03:14 AM
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Default Re: my radiator is losing coolant and dont know where to help!

Originally Posted by burnitdown
auto? if so you may be losing it through the tranny cooler
LOL beat me to it...either you will see milky looking transmission fluid in you trans or transmission fluid in your rad or overflow, its quite obvious too. Hope not though.
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