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Car drinking alot of coolant

Tiny
SHAWN R.
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 SATURN SL2
  • 190,000 MILES
I am not sure if I have a leak at the water pump or intake manifold. I have no puddles under the car but every couple of days I have to add coolant to the over flow bottle. Also after driving the car I get a coolant smell on the passenger side of the car. Not sure where to start first.
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 AT 2:19 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
The passenger side is where the heater core is located. Feel the floor to see if it is wet.

Also, check motor oil to make sure nothing is mixing with the oil and pay attention to the exhaust to see if there is white smoke.

Let me know what you find.
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 AT 2:28 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Just to add to this one the most common places for those cars to leak that year is just bellow the upper radiator hose on the radiator. The water pump and the intake gasket over by the egr pipe. Its not that common for the heater cores to leak your best bet would be to pressure test the cooling system.
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 AT 2:46 AM
Tiny
SHAWN R.
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The floor is not wet in the car. That was the first thing I thought and the oil color is normal not milky as if water or coolant was mixing. Typical exhaust color and smoke. I did notice that after shutting off the car and popping the hood I noticed that there was a little smoke and antifreeze smell right under the water pump. That is why I thought it might be the pump leaking.
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 AT 2:51 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Listen to saturntech. He knows these vehicles. If you see steam below the water pump, that is the most likely leak.
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 AT 2:54 AM
Tiny
SHAWN R.
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I will try what Saturn tech has said also. Thanks for the help.
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 AT 3:07 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Let us know what you find.
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 AT 3:12 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If there is steam and coolant below the water pump that is really the only thing that coolant over there. Another thing you can do if you cant find the proper adapters to pressure test the cooling system is coolant dye. You add that to the coolant and then look with a dye light for the leak trail. But from what you say sounds like you found one leak. But check the other places too I mentioned. Let us know what you find.
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 AT 3:12 AM
Tiny
SHAWN R.
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I found that the water pump was leaking. I finally found puddles this morning under the car. When I started the car and crawled under I found it leaking from the weep hole. So I replaced the pump. Thanks for all the help.
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Saturday, December 10th, 2011 AT 12:55 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Your welcome thats what were here for glad to hear you got it all figured out.
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Saturday, December 10th, 2011 AT 1:13 AM

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