engine and drivetrain Missing coolant

[Guest Anonymous]

I have had coolant disappear and I had no idea where it was going. No apparent leaks just coolant gone. Add coolant about every 5 days. At lunch I said I was going out to get coolant to top up and a guy said I was probably losing coolant from a crack in the block. With that thought I connected some clues. Chocolate moose in the hose venting the crankcase but no problem with the oil. I run a 190F thermostat so any spray into the crankcase other than a flood goes up in steam immediately.

What is the best course of action? Put in stop leak and watch the coolant and drive until?? Get a used 2 liter engine and put all my goodies on it(cam carbs etc.). Get a metric mechanic 2.3L? Love the car, old and not pretty but lots of go fast stuff.

[adrenaline]

I say no to stop leak!!! That is really bad stuff. Here is my suggestion.

Go to your local gas station or shop and have them pressure check the system. You will probably pay 1/2 hour labor but will be worth it because you will know where the leak is.

Here is a couple things that might be going on. You could have a cracked head or head gasket where the coolant is leaking into the motor and being burned slowly. This usually causes white smoke but might not be leaking into the oil. Another senerio is that if you have an automatic transmission and you use the radiator to cool it it might be going into your transmission.

You might go to your local parts store and buy a pressure guage. It will probably cost the same as a 1/2 hour labor at the shop. It is a nice tool to have around.

Mike