engine coolent problem?

Question

it always going low i top it up and about two weeks later its gone low again cant see any leaks any idea where it s all going and is this a major problem

its a 99 mazda 323 topping it u with anti freeze

Answer 1

All good answers...but how do you check it?

Water pump leaks usually do not show up until there is a complete failure. There will be a drip leak near the front of the car, when it is not running. A small hose leak would be similar, but those usually progress to big leaks quickly.

Heater core leak: these are easy to overlook, as there is no visable sign of water. Reach down below the dash board and feel the carpet. Is it damp? It may be the heater core. Does the windshield fog up on start; or have a slimy film? These are other signs of a bad heater core.

The worst possible problem, the head gasket. Pull out the dipstick. You should see oil...either clean oil or dirty oil. If there are bubbles in the oil, you could have a small head gasket leak. If the oil is light brown....light chocolate...like oil, gunk and water mixed together...you have a major head gasket leak.

Minor leaks to the head gasket or header core can be patched with additives (mentioned previously). Major leaks will require repair work.

FYI...if this is Ford...they are nortorious for heater core failure.

Answer 2

My guess is that you have a very small leakage somewhere in your system and that the small amount of coolant evaporates the minute it escapes.

However, to make sure that it's not a head gasket blown, you can do the following simple checks yourself.

Pull the dipstick and check the oil on this. The oil here should be very dark brown or black.
Remove the oil filler cap and check the inside of it. This shall be clean with only brown or black oil plash on it.
Check the engine bay for sediment from dripping and evaporated coolant. If the coolant is evaporated you will see where it happens as only the water in it evaporates not the additives. They settle where the water is evaporated.

If any of the two first checks above shows grey'ish oil on the stick OR grey sediment inside the oil filler cap, then you have a head gasket problem. This should be sorted soonest.

If your engine oil is black/brown you need not worry. If you find it annoying to refill your coolant system every fortnight send the car to a mechanic. He'll soon sort it for you.

Answer 3

There has to be a leak somewhere---water pump leak is difficult to find at early stages. The heater unit inside the car could be leaking,you could be loosing water from the overflow as you are driving----there are many possibilities which should be sorted out as overheating is the worst thing that can happen to a car as far as damage is concerned

Answer 4

To answer this,I need to know car make,most modern cars have what is called an expansion tank,if you are filling this right up,it will be blown out as you drive,there must be room at the top of the tank for water to return to.If you are filling direct to radiator,it"s possible that you have a headgasket problem,which I hope is not the case.Come back to me if you want further help.

Answer 5

add a can of "aluma seal" to the radiator when cool, then run the car till it gets up to operating temp and continue driving for at least a half hour more. This will seal any small leaks. You can get it at most auto parts stores. Don't use "bronze seal" or any other substitutes as they don't work as well.

Answer 6

There is obviously a small leak somewhere - maybe a joint or something.
Don't just keep topping up with water, as you will completely dilue the anti-freeze.
get it checked out by a mechanic - it's only a small problem now and shouldn't cost much - but if left to develop.........who knows!

Answer 7

There are some opportunities. the 1st situation to earnings is the transmission fluid, which would be complicated in case you have between the transmissions without dipstick. A transmission shop might verify that for unfastened, with desire you will have them restore the equipment. Transmission fluid gets into the coolant, and coolant into the transmission, if the cooling loop interior the radiator fails. restore is new radiator, sparkling out cooling equipment and transmission, and replenish the two structures. in any different case, look on the photos interior the 1st source. Your 2003 Impala ought to have Dexcool coolant (this is due for the 2nd coolant substitute) and if the equipment is neglected it incredibly is going to produce brown sludge this is truthfully flawed for oil. this is my astonishing suspect yet you ought to understand for confident with reference to the transmission fluid first. whether, the window for claims on the Dexcool in shape (for intake manifold failure) closed a pair years in the past. there is likewise a distant probability of head gasket hassle, yet this is plenty down on the record of probable issues to circulate incorrect. you do no longer point out mysterious loss of coolant, that's the hallmark of head gasket hassle. EDIT - stable suggestion from u . s . a . Boy.

Answer 8

if all mentioned previously is fine it may be a leak that does not show until system reaches pressure and even then wont be visible as is a very fine mist try lubricate header and radiator cap seals and check system for reddish deposits often left by leaks. good luck

Answer 9

It can BECOME a major problem if you forget to check it. Take it to a shop and tell them you want a cooling system pressure test performed. This will reveal any external leaks in the cooling system.
rkb

Answer 10

Most likely head gasket seepage ,can be fairly expensive , but double check you have no water leakages , you can check it out run engine with rad cap of from cold if you get persistent bubbles rising , it most likley is head seepage