Quick car question for those in the know (Coolant issue)

seanm0520 · Mar 23, 2012

Here it is quick, I believe I have a coolant leak and can't get my car checked out until next week. My low coolant light is continuously on and my temp gauge sometimes reaches the red. That said, my car never runs differently and has yet to overheat. I'm convinced there's a leak or something stopping the coolant from reaching the radiator because every 2 days or so I'm having to put in a full bottle of coolant.

My question is (because I still need to drive it to work), it is a prediluted coolant but can I still add water to the tank? (My 2005 Grand Am doesn't have a radiator cap) I need to keep it from overheating for just a few more days. I know the coolant bottle says "do not add water" but is it because it'll fuck it up, or it just isn't necessary?

Water is obviously cheaper than coolant and I only drive it to work and this point.

Thanks.

mjh12795 · Mar 23, 2012

Put water in it it will be fine as long as the temp outside doesnt drop below freezing.

boatboatboat · Mar 23, 2012

My van has been doing that same thing for the last 3-4 years. I am going to get fixed as soon as I hit a parlay.

Water will work fine.

SoonerNation · Mar 23, 2012

mine doing same thing...could be water pump or radiator as well

ProPokerPlayer · Mar 23, 2012

" my temp gauge sometimes reaches the red."

That IS overheating...sounds like your t-stat is sticking but if u plan to keep driving it like that go ahead and price a motor. You'll need 1 soon.

barman · Mar 23, 2012

The cooling system is a closed system so unless you lose fluid/water by removing the cap and creating a pressure-driven geyser, the only way it can lose fluid is via one or more leaks.

Water will suffice as long as temp does not drop below freezing

OnePocket · Mar 23, 2012

seanm0520 said:
Here it is quick, I believe I have a coolant leak and can't get my car checked out until next week. My low coolant light is continuously on and my temp gauge sometimes reaches the red. That said, my car never runs differently and has yet to overheat. I'm convinced there's a leak or something stopping the coolant from reaching the radiator because every 2 days or so I'm having to put in a full bottle of coolant.

My question is (because I still need to drive it to work), it is a prediluted coolant but can I still add water to the tank? (My 2005 Grand Am doesn't have a radiator cap) I need to keep it from overheating for just a few more days. I know the coolant bottle says "do not add water" but is it because it'll fuck it up, or it just isn't necessary?

Water is obviously cheaper than coolant and I only drive it to work and this point.

Thanks.

This is your problem if you do not have a RADIATOR CAP on the radiator then it will boil it out the top of the radiator there for make the car run HOT.

CujoLatte · Mar 24, 2012

Your coolant is leaking into your engine. You will need a new engine soon......

CujoLatte · Mar 24, 2012

I should of asked this first.... Is coolant on the ground? Or do you just keep putting it in and it disapeers? If it is not on the ground then the above post is correct......

Tacopants · Mar 24, 2012

Does your heat/defrsoter work? Passenger side floorboard damp? If so could be a cracked heater core that is losing the coolant.

KillaRSox · Mar 24, 2012

Could be the thermostat just needs replacement

MIKEY.1TIME · Mar 24, 2012

CujoLatte said:
Your coolant is leaking into your engine. You will need a new engine soon......

a head gasket is expensive but not as expensive as an engine

kermit16 · Mar 24, 2012

OnePocket said:
This is your problem if you do not have a RADIATOR CAP on the radiator then it will boil it out the top of the radiator there for make the car run HOT.

Yes, Why wouldn't you have a radiator cap on the radiator ? They must cost all of $ 3.00 or so ! Like you said, the water will just boil over the top when the engine has been running for any length of time.:think2:

Stylez · Mar 24, 2012

MIKEY.1TIME said:
a head gasket is expensive but not as expensive as an engine

ya and they are pretty easy to do if you have any mechanical aptitude at all.

Where is your cap ?

And i dont think its your therm my experience with them is not closing not staying closed

BAGIANT · Mar 24, 2012

I have a great and cheap solution for those having this problem, unless it's a leaking hose.

Go to your drugstore....yes I said your drugstore....and ask them for a bottle of sodium silicate (liquid glass). It's usually in the sundries isle. If they don't have any in stock, ask them to order it for you. Order two bottles just in case. They only cost about $4 a bottle.

If you don't have too severe a leak, let the engine warn up and then add the whole bottle and take the car for a short ride so it circulates in the cooling system. That should be the end of your problem.

Believe it or not, this stuff can also fix a blown head gasket. That what I had when a mechanic I played cards with told me about the fix and took me to the drug store to buy this stuff. I was adding water to the radiator twice a day. well we went back to the parking lot where my car was parked and used the card clubs hose to refill the radiator. He opened the sodium silicate and poured it in and he told me to start the car. He closed up the radiator and told me to drive home and check the level in the morning.

The next morning before I was ready to make my drive to the card club, I went to add water like usual, and it topped off quickly. That was the end of my problem, and it never happened again. This stuff is really amazing.

LeBud · Mar 24, 2012

Unless you see evidence of coolant leaking; ProPokerPlayer's reply is the most valid.

steve3200 · Mar 24, 2012

Looks like you are right. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_silicate

OnePocket · Mar 24, 2012

BAGIANT said:
I have a great and cheap solution for those having this problem, unless it's a leaking hose.

Go to your drugstore....yes I said your drugstore....and ask them for a bottle of sodium silicate (liquid glass). It's usually in the sundries isle. If they don't have any in stock, ask them to order it for you. Order two bottles just in case. They only cost about $4 a bottle.

If you don't have too severe a leak, let the engine warn up and then add the whole bottle and take the car for a short ride so it circulates in the cooling system. That should be the end of your problem.

Believe it or not, this stuff can also fix a blown head gasket. That what I had when a mechanic I played cards with told me about the fix and took me to the drug store to buy this stuff. I was adding water to the radiator twice a day. well we went back to the parking lot where my car was parked and used the card clubs hose to refill the radiator. He opened the sodium silicate and poured it in and he told me to start the car. He closed up the radiator and told me to drive home and check the level in the morning.

The next morning before I was ready to make my drive to the card club, I went to add water like usual, and it topped off quickly. That was the end of my problem, and it never happened again. This stuff is really amazing.

And after you do this to your car drive it a auto auction and get rid of it. This solution will work. But it is one of the worse things you can do to repair the problem.

If you DO NOT have a radiator cap on you radiator the car will boil the water/antifreeze out of the radiator, there is a reason why the radiator has a radiator cap because the radiator is under pressure so that it can circulate the water through the engine.

Look to see if you have water/antifreeze coming out of the exhaust pipe, this will happen when you have a blown head gasket.

Have you done a coolant system pressure test on your car, do this and the pressure will push the water/antifreeze out if there is a leak then you find your problem.

Have you checked the oil to see if there is water in the oil pan due from a blown head gasket or cracked block, check your oil and if the oil looks a creamy color like when you add cream to coffee then you have serious engine problems and a new engine is the only fix in most cases.

barman · Mar 24, 2012

I'm pretty sure when he stated "no radiator cap" he meant that the engine in this particular car does not even have a "cap", but instead receives all water flow by filling the plastic overflow vessel which then feeds into the radiator

barman · Mar 24, 2012

http://www.justanswer.com/pontiac/34cey-2005-grand-am-v6-overheating-low-coolant.html

Customer Question

Ask your own question now >

my 2005 grand am v6 is overheating. Low coolant iodiot light a couple weeks ago. Filled it. a week later got the same light and the car overheated. stopped and let the enigne cool. started the car and the car cooled its self. Replace thermostat. drained and filled cooling system. Ran couples times before it overheated again. filled with coolant. ran a couple times before overheating again last night.
any ideas?

Expert's Answer

The common cause for coolant loss and overheating on these engines is leaking intake manifold gaskets. The gaskets tend to leak coolant at the ends, particularly the back side of the engine. Look for coolant staining and possibly coolant puddling down onto the transmission.

AND

Expert's Answer

The area adjacent to the thermostat is the backside of the manifold where the leaks predominately occur. This is the same area you are describing seeing a leak. Once the coolant level leaks down low enough, the resulting air in the cooling system will allow the engine to overheat. This is not due to a water pump. If it were just air in the system, the problem would not go away for a week, then reappear. The cost of having the manifold gaskets replaced is typically $600. The parts are total up to around $100, the rest is labor. This is about a 6 hour job for a professional mechanic.

Quick car question for those in the know (Coolant issue)

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