1995 Saturn SL1 coolant leak/color

Tiny
MITCHELLRANDY
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 SATURN SL1
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 70,000 MILES
Small leak cannot find, new pump, no white smoke morning or otherwise, no drip marks, coolant light starts to flash when reserve about 2/3 empty about 200 miles uses pint of antifreeze, dip sticks clean, no foam just nasty dark orange/red fluid color in the reserve tank, been adding 50/50 green fluid, car runs great. Just very puzzling. Thank you for your suggestions.
Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 AT 8:23 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Look right below ur upper hose on ur radiator tank see if it's cracked and leaking there. Let me know what u find.
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Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 AT 9:37 PM
Tiny
MITCHELLRANDY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks but nothing visible leaking there.I want to have the system flushed to see if I can get rid of that nasty color. I think before I bought this car for my daughter they used the orange antifreeze and now with the green going in is causing that color. Not that is going to help with the small leak I have. No white smoke. I would think if I had a head problems there would be some loss of power or foaming showing up somewhere. Can I have the radiator pressure tested? Any other thoughts? Thanks for trying to help I really appreciate it. Randy Mitchell
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Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 AT 9:30 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If u have the orange coolant in there have it flushed out. Make sure the coolant u put back in is phosfate free not the correct spelling of it but just make sure it doesn't have it. It damages the engine. As far as ur leak goes yes have it pressure tested. Maybe ur coolant bottle is leaking on the underside also have seen cars loose coolant from a bad cap. So have ur cap pressure tested as well. If nothing there u can have coolant leak dye added. Let me know what u find.
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Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 AT 10:44 PM

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