Stratocaster

I've noticed that after my car sits for a while and cools down the overflow tank empties. Is that normal, or should it stay at full cold?

thanks!

91 camaro racer

iTrader: (2)

it should still have some in there but only to the "full cold" mark. as the engine cools it draws some fluid back into the motor. just top it off and keep an eye on it.

bntyhntr00

There should be fluid in it because of the fact that if there is a loss of coolant on the engine side it will draw coolant back into the motor (due to the presurized coolant system)

Stratocaster

should I fill it to the full hot mark or full cold mark?

91 camaro racer

iTrader: (2)

if it is hot, then hot. if it is cold then cold. i am talking about engine temp.

89formula350b2l

iTrader: (11)

there should be markings on the tank for when the engine is hot it should be at this line and same for the cold.

Stratocaster

thanks guys

jimdutro

iTrader: (1)

Check your hose going to the coolant recovery tank and where it attaches to the radiator, the hose could be shot and leaking at either point. If that isn`t the problem, check to see if the tank itself is leaking. Mine leaked from the bottom for a long time before I noticed it. Some epoxy took care of the small crack. If it`s not your tank or hose, check all your heater and radiator hoses and connections after the car has sat for an hour or two. You may see a small puddle under the engine if it sits long enough. Look over your radiator to see if it is leaking and check the drain valve on the bottom. Feel around the carpet on the passenger side, if it`s wet the heater core is leaking.

Stratocaster

I've been checking the garage floor and there's never any puddles on the ground. I'll check the carpet on the passenger side to see if it's wet. If that was the case wouldn't the inside of the car reek of antifreeze? I don't notice any smell or anything. I've had the car for a year and shortly after I bought it I had a new thermostat put in it and right beside it I get a small pool of anti freeze that collects there. Nothing big though, maybe 1/2 a teaspoon. I'll soak it up and the next time I drive it it'll collect there again. Maybe that's it.

When I first got the car I noticed that it ran hotter than I liked. During stop and go driving it would sometimes get close to the red and sometimes it would even get into the red a little bit. When it would get into the red I'd pull over and shut the car off and open the hood and the overflow tank wouldn't even be at the fill hot line, and the antifreeze wouldn't be boiling. I had an '87 camaro and it overheated on me three times and it steamed and boiled over like crazy, so I wasn't sure what was going on.

My friend's dad runs a dealership, so I took the car into him and told him what was going on and he said that he thought my gauge wasn't reading accurate. He said that he hooked the car up to their equipment and while the car's gauge would read close to the red, his gauge would only be reading a little over 200 degrees. He went ahead and put in the new stat that I mentioned above and changed the temp sender, but the gauge still does the same thing. The car isn't my daily driver and when I do take it out I never take it on super long drives. 25-30 minutes tops. While I'm driving it I usually keep a close eye on the temp gauge and it'll get up around 220 and cool off, but at about the 25-30 minute mark it'll pass the 220 and slowly climb up close to the red, or just into the red. I just hope it's the gauge that's faulty and not something else.

jimdutro

iTrader: (1)

From what you say, it sounds like a faulty gauge. I was told when I bought my `88 Iroc that the gauge panel was shot, all the gauges needed to be replaced. I started to trouble-shoot it and found that all of the grounds were loose or not attached at all. Tightened down the grounds and everything works the way it is supposed to. You should fix the leaky thermostat housing. Make sure the housing is torqued correctly and the hose is tight, I have had some I needed to double clamp to keep from leaking. I had a `68 El Camino that leaked antifreeze into the car from a bad heater core and I never noticed the smell, I was still a smoker back then. How`s your oil looking? That coolant has to be going somewhere. There are ways to get your car running cooler. Check ******* "total fan control system" on this site.

Stratocaster25

I checked the passanger side carpet and it's not wet. I also pulled the dipstick and the oil seems to be fine. It's not a wierd color or anything. I have no idea where it could be going.

jimdutro

iTrader: (1)

Also, check the bottom of the oil filler cap, sorry to have forgotten that. Any time you take the car out for a drive and stop for a short time, check it out and see if you can find any coolant leaking from anywhere. How old are your freeze plugs?

Stratocaster25

Thanks, I'll check that stuff out... I usually check the ground after I've been parked for a while. I always check my garage floor just out of fear that if there is any antifreeze on the ground I can get it cleaned up before my dog gets into it.

As far as the freeze plugs go, I'm not sure. I guess I should assume that they're the originals from '92.

jimdutro

iTrader: (1)

It`s starting to sound like it leaks when you are driving and blows back and vaporizes so it never hits the ground. You may want to locate and check your freeze plugs with a flashlight, there are probably some on the back of the block that you may be able to see with a flashlight if the clutch cover/flywheel cover is removed. If any of them are leaking, there should be some sort of a stain around it. Check the bottom of your oil filler cap, sometimes coolant will collect there and look milky.