Hi everyone, I knew i had a coolant leak somewhere in my 86 firebird. Well today was very cold and i started the car, let it idle for 5 mins, and i noticed smoke coming up the front of the engine, right over the radiator. It was definetly coolant vapor rising from the radiator. Is this goodbye radiator? What can I do about this? Thanks in advance.

 

put water in your system and make sure that thats where the problem is, it could be the rad, it could be a hose near the rad, it could be anything. make sure its your rad before you decide to replace it. and if its a crack in your rad, go buy a new one.

 

Thanks, when I get a chance, Ill jack the front up and check the hoses. Wat do u mean put water in the system? Theres already coolant in it.

 

probably just meanbs check the level and watch it carefully. For a few bucks you can buy some dye and a blacklight and find your leak. They sell it at almost any auto parts store.

 

Good idea, thanks!

 

well it all depends on how much coolant your losing, because antifreeze can get expensive, its usually best to put just water in your system until you can find the problem, there is still enuf antifreeze in the system tho to prevent water from freezing and from coroding the block. if its a big crack in the rad then the water will **** outta there like crazy, but if its a small crack you might not notice it till the engine gets hot and even then it might be dribbling down from the top of the rad and onto other hoses and stuff. all im sayin is that it may take 15mins to find the hole, it may take 15 seconds. so until you find the hole, use water to fill up your system and when you replace the parts, drain the block and all that and pour in new 50/50 mix water/antifreeze.

 

Why not just take it too a local garage and give them 20. to pressurize the cooling system?

 

Good News, i found 2 places where coolant was leaking out slowly, top radiator hose and lower radiator hose. Apparently the clamps were loose and the coolant was slowling creeping out. I just tightenned the clamps and hope it will hold. The hoses look good though, no cracks or other signs of damage. But i think coolant is still dripping from closer to the engine. Any other places to check?