Engine coolant is disappearing.

Tiny
CRASHNBL
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 CHEVROLET CORSICA
  • 565,473 MILES
I have a 1988 chevy corsica with the 2.8L v-6. And my engine coolant is disappearing.I don't see it in the oil on dipstick and none on the ground. Where is it going?
Saturday, June 11th, 2011 AT 5:16 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,870 POSTS
Most likely out the tail pipe. When a head gasket leaks coolant into the combustion chamber, it also lets combustion gases into the coolant. That can be detected with a special tool. It is a glass cylinder with two chambers partially filled with a special dark blue liquid. Air is drawn from the radiator through the liquid. If combustion gases are present, the liquid will turn bright yellow.

Another test is to add a small bottle of dye to the coolant. After driving for a sufficient length of time, you search with a black light. The dye will show up as a bright yellow stain that you can follow back to the source of the leak. Also search at the tail pipe with the black light.
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Saturday, June 11th, 2011 AT 7:42 PM
Tiny
BIGJIM79
  • MEMBER
  • 239 POSTS
The intake gaskets are real bad about leaking internaly
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Friday, August 5th, 2011 AT 3:36 AM

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