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View Full Version : Coolant "disappearing" fast - now overheating


RyanIL
10-03-2010, 07:11 PM
In a pickle here. Out of town and my slow coolant leak has just become really, really fast.

My heater core's been eating some coolant for a while. Always have to add a few glugs every month or so.

On this weekend trip (about 2 hours from home) the check coolant message came on, topped it off before hitting the road again. And within a couple of hours driving around town got my first ever over-heat spike.

Expansion tank is completely drained. Oil is clear. No white burnoff from the tailpipes.

I'm waiting for her to cool down again before topping off the tank again. I have to be home to work in the morning.. Thinking about leaving early and topping off when needed as I go.

What the hell is going on! (please help)
coledog188
10-03-2010, 08:26 PM
Could a slow leak in one of the hoses behind the engine going to the heater core become a faster leak?

If you top it off and start the car with the heat cranked up (let it warm up) can you see any coolant dripping underneath?
RyanIL
10-03-2010, 09:14 PM
Not a drop. Just topped off again (she's drinking a lot of coolant) then let run heat on for a while. No drips. Drove a couple of miles and started toward the red, then back down again.
novasol
10-03-2010, 09:32 PM
How do you know it's your heater core?
RyanIL
10-03-2010, 09:49 PM
Smell a little burnoff, only when I first turn on the heat after not using it for a while. No other signs of leaks that I've been able to find.
mpower5266
10-03-2010, 09:50 PM
Fill it and let it run while looking at the hoses near the OSV. I had the same issue for a month or so and it turned out to be a hose back there. I think it caused my osv to fail as well.

What is wrong with BFC, there have been multiple posts everywhere?
RyanIL
10-03-2010, 11:13 PM
Okay, thanks for the heads up on that. Nothing's dripping to the ground, but could be burning off before that. Will have to get out my mirror to look back there early in the a.m.
novasol
10-04-2010, 01:22 PM
Okay, thanks for the heads up on that. Nothing's dripping to the ground, but could be burning off before that. Will have to get out my mirror to look back there early in the a.m.

My water pump is on the way out, never saw any leaks under the car either. It was burning off before it could drip down..took me quite a while to figure out what the smell was...had to check all around with the car running using a flashlight and mirror... and finally saw it coming out the weep hole in the bottom of the water pump and running down the head