Burning Coolant

[BoostedAWD91]

I seem to be burning or loosing coolant somewhere. Every week or two depending on how much i drive the car, i have to add maybe 1/4 to 1/2 gallon of water. Its not leaking anywhere, Compression and leakdown test were good so headgasket should be fine. The coolant/water mixture is about 40/60 i would say. Could i be loosing it in the block?

 

My heater hoses were weeping slightly around the clamps. It was on the underside of them so I didnt notice it until I touched it and it was sticky. It drove me nuts for a couple weeks too.

 

[BoostedAWD91]

yeah i have checked everything and nothing is leaking and everything under the hood is new

 

Heater core leaking inside?

 

[BoostedAWD91]

i dont believe so. hard to tell with the dash in but there is no water dripping under the dash or any wet carpet spots anywhere

 

Have you checked under the hood with the car up to temp? I know that you said you checked everywhere but im just asking.

 

[prove_it]

You should do a cooling system pressure test and see how long it holds pressure. Another idea is that your radiator cap is bad and allowing coolant to run into the overflow and eventually blow out. Just an idea. You may also have a crack in the radiator on the front side facing the AC condensor. You'll never see that leak, which is why a pressure test will force coolant out and you can trace the leak better.

 

Quoting BoostedAWD91:
Compression and leakdown test were good so headgasket should be fine.



What headgasket is it?

 

[solidviper89]

^+1
Some leaks only start when the car is hot, little tears on these 20 year old hoses. I had a few like that, or around the heater hose clamps.

 

[prove_it]

That reminds me, on my Accord it kept getting a little low on the coolant. I couldn't find any external leaks at all. Compression was good, but the coolant presure test would leak down slowly. I finally pulled the head off and on the gasket there was a little tiny piece of the gasket had failed. I was still attached, but loose so it worked like a one way and would let coolant out under cylinder vaccuum and under pressure it would seal. I replaced the gasket and all was well.

 

[BoostedAWD91]

there is no leaks while its at full temp and i have done a pressure check and
the cap and system all hold pressure fine. i dont have a/c so i can see the
entire radiator and no leaks

 

[prove_it]

Your not getting any into the oil are you? check your dipstick and see if your oil line is higher than it should be. Also it could be milky if you have coolant in the oil.

 

[BoostedAWD91]

no i dont have any coolant in the oil either, i dont have a clue where its going

 

[prove_it]

must be the coolant gnomes. damn them, damn them all to hell.

 

[Hertz]

Water lines to turbo still there, leaking? Get some coolant coming out on a nice hot turbo and that will be instant vapor.

 

[GVR-4]

I vote for head gasket, since I just had the same problem and replaced mine.

 

[BoostedAWD91]

no all coolant lines for the turbo are gone. im running the mls headgasket and definatly no signs of any headgasket problems unless its something very small that wouldnt effect anything

 

[prove_it]

^ that's what my accord did. I had great compression, no external leaks. It failed just enough. CHeck your plugs, if there is a light greenish tint to them, then most likly you have coolant in the combustion. You'll have to look hard.

 

[BoostedAWD91]

ill have to double check again, i just replaced the plugs a few weeks ago and they
were are in great shape yet and didnt notice any greenish tint to them but ill
check the new ones and see if there is anything

 

[prove_it]

That makes it even better. Post some good pics if you can.