schlag

Coolant is apparently leaking madly from my car.
I frequently must pour more in.


Generally speaking, where can such large amounts of coolant disappear to if it is not leaking from the hoses (just replaced them)?


There are no puddles under my car when I pull out in the morning either. I am sort of baffled.

Thaddeus

Any coolant in your oil? Leaving a trail of steam out your exhaust pipe?

Both are possibilities, neither bode well I'm afraid.

Thaddeus

Jonathan Martini

Don't count out a leaking hose. I had my hoses replaced in January. One day in Febuary I noticed I was running hot, then I smelt coolant and saw smoke. Luckily I was pulling into my complex at the time. I parked the car and waited for a puddle to see where the leak was. No puddle. Waited over night. No puddle. Started up the car. Located a small drip at idle.

Turns out a pully had rubbed one of the hoses and caused a small rip and crack that was pretty much water tight when the car was stopped, but had a slow leak when the car was running. Not entirely the mechanics fault. My radiator was a little loose at the time and had pushed the hoses back a bit.

My advice would be to take the airbox off and do a visual inspection of the hoses. Most of the should be visible. All you need is a philips head screwdriver. If not the hoses, then most likely you are hosed. That's so bad I can't believe I typed it. Anyway, if not the hoses pray its only a cracked radiator.

Other possibilities aren't so good:
As stated by Thaddeus, coolant in the oil is a probable cause for lost coolant.

schlag

Hoses seem OK. Will do a closer inspection tomorrow night. No steam trail from car either. When I changed the oil about 1500 miles ago, it was not frothy or anything. I could check that again, and also the radiator. Any other suggestions?


My car is quite the problem child..

p0r2chby

pull the timing cover and look for evidence of moisture around the waterpump.

schlag

waterpump moisture? Would that indicate a bad waterpump? I can't figure this out.. any master mechanics in the SJ/Philly area feel like looking at this one? :>

951Tom

Could be the oil cooler seals. The coolant leaks internally into the oil pan which is why you don't see any puddles. Get it checked out soon.

p0r2chby

[quote]Originally posted by Tom L.:
<strong>Could be the oil cooler seals. The coolant leaks internally into the oil pan which is why you don't see any puddles. Get it checked out soon.</strong><hr></blockquote>


the other clue to THIS type of problem would be to find oil in the coolant overflow tank. A lot of cars that have had the "mixing" problem, show evidence of oil in the overflow tank.

schlag

Oi oi.. I see. I'll check that out tomorrow.


A side note - my car also seems to be going through oil at an equally alarming rate. Could the incidents be connected?

schlag

OK - I checked under the OEL cap and there's no sludge.. bone dry even after a short, spirited run. I'll check the oel pan and coolant overflow later on... hope it doesnt die in the meantime. :\