So here it goes, Car is loosing coolant and there are no discernible puddles. I dont have the milky residue in my oil cap nor oil bubbles on my dip stick. No white smoke out of my exhaust. Not really sure what to do. Just replaced my upper and lower radiator hoses and thermostat and gasket and it did not help the issue (they were original and needed to be replaced anyway). Should I do a compression test for each cylinder to further troubleshoot a headgasket issue? Car has 215K miles.

Any help is appreciated.


Thanks!

 

Thoroughly check the radiator, especially if it is over 7 years old. The plastic tanks can look deceptively fine but may be leaking. Not sure on 98-02s but the 90-97 cars there is a flat portion under the radiator cap that tends to fail and leak, sometimes slowly, sometimes catastrophically.
I was chasing down a coolant leak for over a year, could never find the problem, til the upper tank blew.
If you ever randomly smell a burning rubber/plastic smell, and your belts are not squealing, then it is most likely the tank.

I'd reccomend replacing the radiator if it is over 7 years old and/or you have no history on the car.

 

yea the 98-01 cars have that flat portion on the radiator cap... I had a problem after driving for a while and i cut the car off coolant would boil over into the overflow and leak everywhere. It took me a few weeks to determine that flat portions rubber on the radiator cap was not even there anymore. I got a new cap, installed it, and AS SOON AS i started the car (from a overnight dead cold start mind you) white smoke blew out the tail pipe like nobodies business!! So of course i needed a head gasket