coolant question - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

JerseyLS1TA · 02-07-2013, 06:23 AM

I check and filled the radiator up bc the low coolant light keeps coming on the dash. Well after driving it 25 mins the light pops back on, so I get to where im going pop the hood to check the reservoir and there is coolant sprayed onto the underside of the hood, puddles of it by the battery and dripping under the car. It appears to be coming out the reservoir cap. Any ideas why? I guess its either a bad cap or the radiator is building too much pressure?

donnj · 02-07-2013, 06:48 AM

could be numerous things, air in system, blown head gasket, cracked block... hope its a easy fix for you

V · 02-07-2013, 07:05 AM

also check for pinholes in the rad hoses or heater hoses. they could look fine to the eye but under pressure when hot, they'll spray a thin stream out.

Basically, clean the coolant off of everything by spraying it down with brake parts cleaner. Once that dries all wet residue will be gone. top off the coolant and let the car run to get up to temp. keep an eye on the temp level just to ensure it doesn't overheat. Once its up to temp you should be able to see where the leak is coming from. also, just be careful if topping off with plain water. Use a premixed 50/50 coolant(like prestone any color any make) or mix yourself with distilled water(the lack of any minerals in distilled is best for coolant systems)

JerseyLS1TA · 02-07-2013, 07:14 AM

I'm really hoping its something not too serious. I guess I should start with a coolant flush? The car runs & drives fine, no smoke out the exhaust, oil is clean.

V, I use dexcool should I just refill with that? Not sure if its ok to mix with other stuff?

sweetbmxrider · 02-07-2013, 07:48 AM

Keep the coolant the same. Maybe you can rent a pressure tester from a parts store? That would be the easiest way to find the leak. Was the cap all the way on?

JerseyLS1TA · 02-07-2013, 08:03 AM

Ok. Yea cap was all the way on. With the pressure tester, I'm assuming ya just screw it on, pump it and it'll start spitting fluid? I've never used one before obviously

WildBillyT · 02-07-2013, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyLS1TA

Ok. Yea cap was all the way on. With the pressure tester, I'm assuming ya just screw it on, pump it and it'll start spitting fluid? I've never used one before obviously

Yeah, they are pretty easy to use. Autozone or a place like that will loan it out.

V · 02-07-2013, 08:53 AM

yea you can keep dexcool just never use tap water with it. distilled only. i hate dexcool personally and just run prestone in my lsx cars, former and present. after i saw what drained from my SS and old candy sts... i was afraid of dexcool lol

Jersey Mike · 02-07-2013, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V

yea you can keep dexcool just never use tap water with it. distilled only. i hate dexcool personally and just run prestone in my lsx cars, former and present. after i saw what drained from my SS and old candy sts... i was afraid of dexcool lol

I know there was a lawsuit against Dexcool, and it certainly didn't look pretty when I saw what was in there, but I never had a heating issue in the time I've owned my car--nor did the previous owner. Should I really return the 2 jugs of Dexcool I have that are waiting to go in the 'bird?

JerseyLS1TA · 02-07-2013, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V

yea you can keep dexcool just never use tap water with it. distilled only. i hate dexcool personally and just run prestone in my lsx cars, former and present. after i saw what drained from my SS and old candy sts... i was afraid of dexcool lol

what did you do before starting using prestone, Just flush out the coolant system?

chrisfrom nj · 02-07-2013, 09:44 AM

make sure the water pump is pumping and the fans kick on

JerseyLS1TA · 02-07-2013, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisfrom nj

make sure the water pump is pumping and the fans kick on

The fans are working. As to the water pump I believe it is seeing as I have heat, what's a surefire way to test it?

V · 02-07-2013, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyLS1TA

what did you do before starting using prestone, Just flush out the coolant system?

Well i swapped the motor in my SS so the motor was dry and new. i flushed the heater core with a hose then poured 2 gallons of distilled water through it. similar action with the rad . when i worked on the v, i drained the rad which i replaced and just refilled with distilled and prestone.

Italian Stallion · 02-09-2013, 10:35 AM

That same problem happened to me, and i ended up with blown head gaskets.

Mezzy · 02-09-2013, 09:40 PM

Many times, the light comes on because the sensor is faulty. If you overfilled the reservoir, that would make it come out also. Do you know know for sure that you're low? The bottle doesn't get filled to the top.

JerseyLS1TA · 02-11-2013, 08:41 AM

After pressurizing the system, the culprit is the waterpump

sweetbmxrider · 02-11-2013, 09:00 AM

If you haven't done hoses or tstat yet, now is the time.

JerseyLS1TA · 02-11-2013, 10:20 AM

Hoses, belt, t stat all being done. They're all the original

NastyEllEssWon · 02-12-2013, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyLS1TA

Hoses, belt, t stat all being done. They're all the original

also make sure you order the 01/02 water pump. the kits for the earlier models come with paper gaskets and suck balls. what you want are the little metal gaskets with the rubber inlays. also beings that yours most likely has the paper gaskets stock (if its never been changed) make sure you get yourself a razor blade or little brush to get the old gasket crap off. i also use a small bit of superglue to get the new gaskets lined up without any problems