adrianolsen

thanks for all of the useful info, i'm going proceed in the morning - addressing the valves and seals before checking the head. really taking good look at the source of the leak before i draw any conclusions and pay the big bucks. here are more facts about the issue that i have remembered. maybe they will help to narrow to a solution...

more facts:

1. since i've owned it (october -with some days around 80 and driving it for 2 hour periods) the engine has never overheated. the gage, which seems to work well has never been more than a little over half and I've never seen steam coming from the radiator.

2. the smoke that I'm talking about (more white than blue) only occurs when I'm driving at high speeds - say 55mpr and above - and it only happens when i've let off the gas to break or slow down and then put my foot back on the gas to accelerate - as soon as i put my foot back on the gas, that's when the smoke comes out of the exhaust (a considerable amount - an embarrassing amount)

3. it's hard to tell how fast the coolant is leaking, and i haven't kept best watch on it. but i'm pretty sure that while it's sitting it doesn't leak.

it's only when i drive it. and i if memory serves, the level is lower after longer/faster drives on the highway when the car is hot.

again i haven't seen any coolant on the ground, but the car has been outside on gravel, i will put cardboard down tonight. i have noticed a bit of blue residue around the radiator cap that has dripped down the radiator as well.

my oil levels have stayed relatively steady. though I have added about a quart since october when the oil was changed.

thank you again! i'll update tomorrow!

thanks for the insight - gonna start reading up and am gonna triple check tomorrow about the leaking... i'll keep everyone posted on progress

was hoping you wouldn't say that... any idea what i should look for in a quote when i take it in? damn.

We got a 1974 2002 a couple of months ago we are gradually losing (faster than normal) coolant. there are no coolant drip marks anywhere to be found and im guessing that the coolant is somehow (im a total noob but really interested in learning!) leaking into the engine and showing up when slowing down from high speeds as whitish blue smoke out of the tailpipe. The stock radiator is pretty beat up (bent fins) and I was curious if replacing with a refurbed stock radiator (maybe upgrading to 3 cores + adding a better 5 blade fan?) would be the right move to address the problem and improve engine cooling. Thanks in advance for the time and thoughts!