Where is my coolant going?? - Forums - Official C3 Vette Registry - C3 Corvette Registry

Home page

☰

SPONSOR AD

Support our Vendors! | Advertise Here

Topic: Where is my coolant going??

in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems

Already a Member?
Login
Not yet a Member?
Register for Free!

Hide Signatures

Where is my coolant going?? (1/16)
12/6/06 7:15pm

zgator
Former Member
Send Private Message

Savannah, GA - USA

Vette(s):
1982CE,32,000 and counting. (fast!!) 1981 Vette, black on black. ZZ4 (quick!!)

Joined: 1/20/2005
Posts: 936

I have a 82CE and latley I've had to add coolant every once and a while,depending on how much I drive it.At least every couple of weeks.I can't find anyplace where it might be comming out.Nothing on the inside(heatercore)and nothing that I can see from the outside.The car is all stock so the cooling system is as GM made it.I'm puzzled?? Confused

Our Sponsors help support C3VR

Where is my coolant going?? (2/16)
12/6/06 7:24pm

Lifetime Member

Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send Private Message

BINGHAMTON, NY - USA

Vette(s):

Joined: 7/19/2003
Posts: 3808

Did you check the tail pipes or the oil pan ?

______________

C3VR Lifetime Member #93

Where is my coolant going?? (3/16)
12/6/06 8:21pm

daveb12
Former Member
Send Private Message

KERNERSVILLE, NC - USA

Vette(s):
1968 L-71 convertible

Joined: 1/13/2004
Posts: 1355

The water pump may also be a possibility. I've had a couple leak very slightly and only when runnng.

Try just letting the car idle for a while with a piece of cardboard under the engine.

Obviously, you'd want to check the bad stuf first, like Ron mentioned, water pump issues are fairly simple to correct, but if you have a bad head gasket or cracked head, it doesn't need to be left to get worse.

______________

Where is my coolant going?? (4/16)
12/6/06 9:52pm

Gunslinger
Former Member
Send Private Message

Frederick, MD - USA

Vette(s):
1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior

Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398

Have the system pressure tested, including the radiator pressure cap. People tend to overlook the cap. You may be able to borrow the tester from Auto Zone or Advance Auto and do it yourself. That will tell you if the system is losing pressure and possibly where it's losing pressure from.

If it's an external leak, you should be able to see where the coolant is coming from. If it's an internal leak, it may take a bit more investigation.

Where is my coolant going?? (5/16)
12/8/06 5:18pm

Lifetime Member

Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send Private Message

Moses Lake, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II

Joined: 4/16/2005
Posts: 2134

I had a slight leak once on my wife's van and it took me forever to find it. Turned out the leak was between the head and block right under the exhaust port. The coolant would evaporate as soon as it leaked out. No coolant on the ground or down the block. I finally saw a little green crusty stuff under the exhaust manifold.

Where is my coolant going?? (6/16)
12/8/06 6:03pm

Ten15
Former Member
Send Private Message

East Hanover, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
'68 Black Conv. Matching 327/300 4 Spd. P/S, P/B, P/W, Tele, A/C

Joined: 9/25/2004
Posts: 525

After a pressure test, I found as leak in the heater hose water pump fitting.

I pulled it, cleaned it & used a little extra thread sealant when I re-installled it........Leak fixed.

I agree w/ Gunslinger,,,,,,,,,,,,I wouldn't have found the leak w/o the pressure test.

Good luck,

Anthony

Where is my coolant going?? (7/16)
12/8/06 8:48pm

Lifetime Member

Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

HOWELL, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.

Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812

Check the passenger side carpet. If your heater core sprung a leak, it may be running down the inside of the cowl and saturating the footwell area... Dead

Dead

Where is my coolant going?? (8/16)
12/8/06 10:01pm

zgator
Former Member
Send Private Message

Savannah, GA - USA

Vette(s):
1982CE,32,000 and counting. (fast!!) 1981 Vette, black on black. ZZ4 (quick!!)

Joined: 1/20/2005
Posts: 936

I forgot to mention that I don't have any water in the oil and there is no coolant inside the car.I just took it for a ride and I still can't find it.I once took off the radior cap with some difficulty,could I have maybe not put it back on right.This is the newest old car I've ever had.All the other ones(69 GTO.2 70 Z/28's. 70 Roadrunner,78 Transam ect)all of those cars didn't have a system like my 82 Vette so thats why I went right to the cap so maybe thats the problem?

Where is my coolant going?? (9/16)
12/9/06 6:29pm

Chips58
Former Member
Send Private Message

, - Australia

Vette(s):
71 Coupe Black on Black

Joined: 5/6/2004
Posts: 535

If you've not put the cap on right (I presuming it's on the expansion tank) you'll be dumping coolant on the road as you drive. I would expect to see a puddle under the car when you stop though unless you've lost that much that it can't reach the drain. Is the engine temp higher than normal? That would indicate not enough pressure in the cooling system.

Where is my coolant going?? (10/16)
12/10/06 3:08am

zgator
Former Member
Send Private Message

Savannah, GA - USA

Vette(s):
1982CE,32,000 and counting. (fast!!) 1981 Vette, black on black. ZZ4 (quick!!)

Joined: 1/20/2005
Posts: 936

[QUOTE=Chips58]

If you've not put the cap on right (I presuming it's on the expansion tank) you'll be dumping coolant on the road as you drive. I would expect to see a puddle under the car when you stop though unless you've lost that much that it can't reach the drain. Is the engine temp higher than normal? That would indicate not enough pressure in the cooling system.

[/QUOTE] No man I'm not talking expansion tank.I mean Raidiator cap!!The engine temp is cool no problem there either

Where is my coolant going?? (11/16)
12/10/06 12:17pm

gs77vet
Former Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 3/19/2005
Posts: 385

Hey Zgator, When your engine is hot check around the water intake on you radiator, (top left side) usually a small crack near the radiator. I had the same problem, hence a new radiator. I wish for you better luck. Gene

Question, What does zgator mean. If it means you are a Florida football fan. (WAR EAGLE) gs77vet2006-12-10 09:19:17

Where is my coolant going?? (12/16)
12/10/06 8:32pm

Chips58
Former Member
Send Private Message

, - Australia

Vette(s):
71 Coupe Black on Black

Joined: 5/6/2004
Posts: 535

[QUOTE=zgator][QUOTE=Chips58]

If you've not put the cap on right (I presuming it's on the expansion tank) you'll be dumping coolant on the road as you drive. I would expect to see a puddle under the car when you stop though unless you've lost that much that it can't reach the drain. Is the engine temp higher than normal? That would indicate not enough pressure in the cooling system.

[/QUOTE] No man I'm not talking expansion tank.I mean Raidiator cap!!The engine temp is cool no problem there either[/QUOTE]

No problem. I thought 82's had an expansion tank and no cap on the radiator with the expansion tank being part of the pressure system.

Where is my coolant going?? (13/16)
12/10/06 9:47pm

zgator
Former Member
Send Private Message

Savannah, GA - USA

Vette(s):
1982CE,32,000 and counting. (fast!!) 1981 Vette, black on black. ZZ4 (quick!!)

Joined: 1/20/2005
Posts: 936

My 82 has a cap for the rad.and the expantion tank that you use to fiil the system.The problem is that I tried to fill the system through the rad now my cap might be messed up or put on wrong.Could this be the cause?

Where is my coolant going?? (14/16)
12/10/06 10:29pm

Lifetime Member

Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.

Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

Like Gunslinger and Ten15 said....pressure test the system. Guessing and speculating isn't going to pinpoint the problem quickly.

I went nuts for a couple weeks last summer trying to figure where the heck the smell of antifreeze was coming from when I first started the car. Nothing in the oil, nothing on the ground or visible dampness or smoke.

So I finally put a tester on the system and pumped it up to 15 psi and after 20 I finally had a puddle form on the ground. I did the pressure test cold.

Turned out to be a loose heater hose clamp at the heater shut off valve.

The antifreeze would seep upon cold start up and drip onto the exhaust header evaporating before it could hit the ground. And the leak at the clamp would stop as soon as the coolant got hot. So that left no opportunity for it to give off "smoke signals."

Good luck on finding that leak!

______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

3.54 Dana 44

'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975

Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.

Lifetime Member #26

Where is my coolant going?? (15/16)
12/11/06 12:50pm

zgator
Former Member
Send Private Message

Savannah, GA - USA

Vette(s):
1982CE,32,000 and counting. (fast!!) 1981 Vette, black on black. ZZ4 (quick!!)

Joined: 1/20/2005
Posts: 936

[QUOTE=gs77vet]

Hey Zgator, When your engine is hot check around the water intake on you radiator, (top left side) usually a small crack near the radiator. I had the same problem, hence a new radiator. I wish for you better luck. Gene

Question, What does zgator mean. If it means you are a Florida football fan. (WAR EAGLE) [/QUOTE] I am a Gator fan but live in GA.I love it when Fla beats the Bull Dogs,but my name comes from the fact that I live in an area where there is a lot of gators around.I got the nickname from when I was about 14 and I was poking a gator in the nose with a long stick.Well,not to good,The gator finally got pi##t off and ran me up a tree.I had to wait in that three until one of my friends went for help.My dad and a couple of his friends came and got the gator to move on by shooting their guns in and around him until he ran away.The Z part is from the Z/28 (71) that I have.Know you all now the embarssing part of my nickname Embarrassed

Embarrassed

zgator2006-12-11 09:52:21

Where is my coolant going?? (16/16)
12/15/06 12:07pm

gs77vet
Former Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 3/19/2005
Posts: 385

Hey gator, I'm glad you are O.K. But that ordeal is funny. We have some huge gators around here. Last year a 14 ft. gator was pulled out of the lake that connects to my property. I have personally seen only 4 to 5 ft. gators. Thats big enough for me. Gene

Our Sponsors help support C3VR