Loosing water (Page 1/1)
bushwacker AUG 22, 12:26 PM
I have a 1986 GT I started it and let it idle for a bit and it overheated. I turned it off and checked the radiator and it was full. I thought bad thermostat so I pulled the thermoset and the block had no water in it. I filled it and purged it then took it for a drive and it was fine. The next day I checked it and the radiator was full but again the engine block was empty. I fill it again stated the engine and looked for leaks. I found no leaks. I checked the oil and there is no water in the oil. I checked the exhaust and no water come out the exhaust. I also checked the spark plugs and there are burning prefect. Anyone have any idea of where the water is going?
Patrick AUG 22, 01:56 PM

A couple of red flags in your post. Removing the rad cap to check the coolant level is incorrect, as the radiator is not the highest point of the coolant system. And you've also made no mention of the operation of the coolant overflow reservoir.

Read over my post Here regarding filling and "burping" of the system.
bushwacker AUG 22, 02:08 PM
The coolant level in the overflow tank is normal. All lines look fine. I will try rising the back end of the car higher then the radiator and fill again. The puzzling thing is after the car sits over night the engine block will be empty and I will have to add about 1 gal to fill it. The point I am try to make is both the radiator and overflow tank levels are normal but the block is low.

[This message has been edited by bushwacker (edited 08-22-2020).]

Patrick AUG 22, 02:21 PM

quote
Originally posted by bushwacker:

The puzzling thing is after the car sits over night the engine block will be empty and I will have to add about 1 gal to fill it.



If that one gallon of water was "leaking" somewhere overnight, it would be pretty obvious where it's going.

I suspect you're simply not filling the entire cooling system to begin with. If you follow the procedure I linked to, you should be able to get rid of the air pockets.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 08-22-2020).]

IMSA GT AUG 22, 05:20 PM
More importantly...........how did this all start? Did you simply decide to drain the coolant and refill? Is this a car that you just bought and are trying to get running? Where does the story start or have you owned this car for a long time and the car just started overheating?

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 08-22-2020).]

bushwacker AUG 22, 06:38 PM
I have had this car for 7 years. Won two first place trophies with it at car shows. I started it one day and let it run for a couple min. and it over heated. I checked the coolant level in the radiator and the overflow reservoir and they where fine so I though it was a thermostat. I pulled the thermostat and found the block was low on water. That is how it started. I filled it and purged it took it for a ride and there was no issues. The next day I pulled the thermostat and the block was low again. There are no leaks on the ground, no water in the oil, no water in the exhaust and the plugs are burning prefect.
theogre AUG 22, 06:48 PM
See my Cave, Coolant Fill to fill right.
Rest of section looking for other problem(s).

If parked on dirt or surface drain easy otherwise... dog training pads will keep coolant on top to find easier. get a most mart stores cheaper.

Still can't find? Pull spark plugs and keep them in order.
look for 1 or more is cleaner.
Cleaner plugs often is "burning" coolant for intake leads, crack head, etc.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

bushwacker AUG 22, 06:52 PM
Its parked on concrete so no leaks. It looses about a gallon of fluid so it most likely is not burring it. I just did the purge procedure as described by theogre today and took it for a drive and it ran fine. So I will check it in the morning to see if it still losses water.
Mike in Sydney AUG 23, 06:23 AM
Have you checked the radiator cap and the thermostat cap? Could you be losing coolant as you drive?

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Mike in Sydney

bushwacker AUG 23, 08:57 AM
Yes checked both no leaks there.