my 2001 runs like a new car, even with 197k miles on it. gets 30 mpg if driven like it's stolen. the only problem i have is coolant keeps disappearing. then the car will start running warmer (doesn't overheat, gives me good warning so i can add more). how do i narrow down if it's intake or head gasket? there's no smoke out the exhaust and i THINK i've caught wiffs of coolant before, but i can't be too sure. the radiator cap was broken and was causing the coolant to spray out the overflow tube, but a new cap fixed that...i was hoping the issues were fixed but today i had to add more coolant. any suggestions short of setting the car ablaze?
2001 Cavalier Sport Coupe
2.2/auto...stock with 197k miles...
as far as I know coolant isn't circulated through the intake manifold.
some testing that you could do are:
coolant pressure test
combustion leak detection fluid for head gasket leak
leak down pressure test would pressurize the cylinder and head gasket or cracked head would show up a bubbles in the cooling system
yikes, looks like i'm looking at a head gasket...how bad are these to change?
2001 Cavalier Sport Coupe
2.2/auto...stock with 197k miles...
UPDATE: did some more checking and found that my radiator was cracked in an obscure spot...causing it to leak under pressure. got it replaced and the problem is fixed!
2001 Cavalier Sport Coupe
2.2/auto...stock with 197k miles...
All Chevy radiators crack after 1990. They are made cheap and usually crack on te drivers side front. I think it's because they went to a cheap plastic and aluminum. This happened on all my cars I have owned.
On the inside my car looks like a fighter jet.
yep, that's exactly where it cracked...the driver's side front. it was quite the pain to replace...
2001 Cavalier Sport Coupe
2.2/auto...stock with 197k miles...
It's really a pain to diagnose they usually only leak when on an hot. If its cool they done. It is very annoying.
On the inside my car looks like a fighter jet.
