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Old 08-11-2014, 03:12 PM   #1
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another coolant thread

This must be coolant week

I noticed that my coolant was slightly below the min mark and added about 1 cup (8oz) of distilled water which brought it to just below the MAX mark.

When I bought the car in mid march and 5000 miles ago it was at MAX.

I drove around a bit today and looked and saw no change to the coolant level in the tank. Checked under the car and its bone dry in the back, just a little water in the front from the AC. Trunk is bone dry as well. Coolant cap is latest version

Is it normal to have to add a little to the coolant tank every now and then, or do I have something to worry about?

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Old 08-11-2014, 03:31 PM   #2
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1 cup in 5,000 miles? Sounds like a winner to me.
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Old 08-11-2014, 03:31 PM   #3
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I'm gonna vote in a closed system, that fluid had to go somewhere. When I swapped my WP I saw it had leaked enough to make a fluid line as the pulley spun, but never leaked a drop to the floor.
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Old 08-11-2014, 03:34 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Timco View Post
I'm gonna vote in a closed system, that fluid had to go somewhere. When I swapped my WP I saw it had leaked enough to make a fluid line as the pulley spun, but never leaked a drop to the floor.
I tend to agree with you , it had to go somewhere ???

Just replaced the serp belt a could of weeks ago and everything looked and felt fine. Also sent an oil sample to Blackstone and no water or antifreeze in the oil. In fact they said my oil was very good

Ill pull the cover and check the WP just in case
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Old 08-11-2014, 03:36 PM   #5
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I tend to agree with you , it had to go somewhere ???

Just replaced the serp belt a could of weeks ago and everything looked and felt fine. Also sent an oil sample to Blackstone and no water or antifreeze in the oil. In fact they said my oil was very good
If tank or cap you would have condensation. Wet trunk liner?

These issues are really agro.
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Old 08-11-2014, 03:38 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Timco View Post
If tank or cap you would have condensation. Wet trunk liner?

These issues are really agro.
trunk, liner and carpet bone dry and no sign of coolant
no condensation

Looked at the area around the tank as well and looks factory new
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Old 08-11-2014, 04:02 PM   #7
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I would venture to say it could be a water pump seeping. My mechanic said to not change the belt unless it looks ready to change. On older higher mileage cars it can lead to water pump failure because of the added tention a new belt will put on the pump. Just my 2 cents worth.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JayG View Post
trunk, liner and carpet bone dry and no sign of coolant
no condensation

Looked at the area around the tank as well and looks factory new
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Old 08-11-2014, 04:27 PM   #8
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I would venture to say it could be a water pump seeping. My mechanic said to not change the belt unless it looks ready to change. On older higher mileage cars it can lead to water pump failure because of the added tention a new belt will put on the pump. Just my 2 cents worth.
The tension on the belt is applied by the tensioner pulley and shouldn't have anything to do with the age of the belt. I really fail to see how a new belt would increase the load on the water pump.
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Old 08-11-2014, 04:39 PM   #9
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The tension on the belt is applied by the tensioner pulley and shouldn't have anything to do with the age of the belt. I really fail to see how a new belt would increase the load on the water pump.
Unless it was slipping, no change regardless of length. Tensioner is still the same and relatively equal throughout its range of motion. A UD pulley would change the speed of the pump but wouldn't change the load on it.

Only thicker fluid or some restrictive change would add load.
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Old 08-14-2014, 07:58 AM   #10
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Weird

Today I checked the coolant tank and it is higher that when I added the water
I added the water with engine dead cold and checked in same condition

I gained coolant????

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Old 08-14-2014, 08:22 AM   #11
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The coolant gnomes are messing with you.

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