1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Coolant Drip

PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
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PELSMAA
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hi. i drive a '97 pontiac grand prix, 200,005 miles (mostly highway) gt, v6. i live in denver and since the snow storms the streets have been absurd. i've bottomed out a couple times and checked underneath today for anything out of the ordinary. around the middle of my car, off of what i believe to be part of the exhaust, is a slow drip of clear, somewhat slippery, fluid that has an almost sweet odor. im concerned perhaps that i've ruptured something and my continued driving may lead to a major problem. i dont think its brake fluid. would appreciate your thoughts. thanks.

andy
Jan 19, 2007 at 5:15 PM
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Is that a 3.8 motor?

It gives the impression of coolant.

Check your coolant level.

Check your oil level and condition, for starters.
Jan 19, 2007 at 9:32 PM
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PELSMAA
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yeah, the motor is 3.8. oil is fine, checked it first thing, changed it 2-3 weeks ago. coolant level is fine, too. at least it was, i'll see today if its dropping. why would it be secreting under practically the back seat? brake fluid is much darket in color, yes? thanks for you interest and help

a
Jan 20, 2007 at 5:59 AM
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What I am thinking is that there may be a breach in the intake manifold. You may be getting coolant in to the cylinders and then into the exhaust.

This is a problem that can be gradual with symptoms or unexpectly at once. These have a plastic intake that fails near a cooling port as it can't handle the heat.

IF coolant rushes in fast enough you'll have hydolic lock up. The hydrolic lock up is classic symptom on this one. IF it happens you may end up twisted internal parts. There is 50/50 chance you'll need an engine if this happens.

Take a piece of white cardboard or preferably plastic that you can catch the liquid. Then compare it to your other liquids. Best bet is to try to see what is is driiping off of. Brake fluid can be dark, but should be clear. You would feel a brake pedal loss however.
Jan 20, 2007 at 7:56 AM

Suggested Repair

Check coolant and oil levels and condition. Catch the drip on white cardboard or plastic, compare it with known fluids, and identify exactly what it is dripping from. A sweet clear fluid may be coolant from a failing plastic intake manifold entering the cylinders and exhaust; have that inspected before continued driving because a sudden coolant rush can cause hydrolock and internal engine damage.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8 with about 200,000 miles reported a slow drip of clear, slippery, sweet-smelling fluid near the middle of the car, possibly from the exhaust, after bottoming out on rough streets. Oil and coolant levels were fine at the time. The expert suspected coolant leaking through a failed plastic intake manifold into the cylinders and then the exhaust, warned that a sudden leak can cause hydrolock and serious engine damage, and advised catching the fluid for comparison and tracing its source.

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