1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
 | [Main 9000 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Re: Where's the water going, then? Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Wed, 15 Feb 2006 05:29:03
In Reply to: Where's the water going, then?, Thorfinn, Wed, 15 Feb 2006 04:02:16 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Two places come to mind - exhaust and a leak in the engine compartment.
If the heater matrix is leaking, (1) you'd smell it, and (2) the carpeting would be very wet.
Are you getting white exhaust? It's normal to have some white exhaust when the car and weather are both cold. But once the car warms up, the exhaust should be clear. If you're seeing whitish exhaust, then you're burning coolant. Most likely a bad head gasket.
Leaks in the engine compartment. I'm assuming you aren't seeing coolant pooled under the car. But look at places where hoses meet fittings - do you see whitish or greenish powder? If so, that's the sign of coolant leaking and evaporating.
One thing to do is when the engine is cold, go around and tighten every hose clamp. Don't forget the hard-to-reach ones on the water pump. When a car warms up, metal expands. This repeated action, day after day, tends to loosen up clamps. When the car is cold, the cooling system isn't pressurized, and coolant doesn't leak out and leave a telltale pool. When you start the car, the cooling system starts to pressurize, but it doesn't really get warm until you start driving. For a little while, the system is pressurized but the hoses and fittings aren't hot, so coolant can leak out. But you're driving down the road, so leaking coolant drips on the road, not your driveway. And the airflow can evaporate it quickly where it drips inside the engine compartment. When the engine fully warms up, the fittings expand from the heat, sealing the leaks. So no dripping at your destination.
The 'window of opportunity' for leaks is small, but happens when you're underway.
posted by 192.249....
, Wed, 15 Feb 2006 05:29:03 <-- Viewing This Message
, Wed, 15 Feb 2006 09:13:57, Wed, 15 Feb 2006 12:36:21
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
