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Topic: Where is my coolant going??

in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems


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Where is my coolant going?? (6/16)
 12/8/06 6:03pm
Ten15
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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
lukesvetteLifetime Member
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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
Where is my coolant going?? (8/16)
 12/8/06 10:01pm
zgator
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Savannah, GA - USA

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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
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, - Australia

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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
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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
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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) Big%20smile
gs77vet2006-12-10 09:19:17
Where is my coolant going?? (12/16)
 12/10/06 8:32pm
Chips58
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, - Australia

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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
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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
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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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
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3.54 Dana 44
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Born 8/1981
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Where is my coolant going?? (15/16)
 12/11/06 12:50pm
zgator
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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) Big%20smile
[/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 nicknameEmbarrassed zgator2006-12-11 09:52:21
Where is my coolant going?? (16/16)
 12/15/06 12:07pm
gs77vet
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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
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