coolant leak

[Fedaykin]

I have a 92 3.4 DOHC cutlass supreme

today I was driving normally and I started to smell something a little funny... then it got worse, the car started filling with coolant vapour slowly. when i got out and checked there was coolant dripping from the rear of engine compartment.

I think it has something to do with the heater core or heater lines.

any suggestions?

its dark now and i'll investigate in the morning.

[Scott205]

I would think it would probably leak inside the car if it was the core.. but I would guess a hose is leaking. Engines usually leak in the block or from the side near the thermostat

[Lyle's GTP]

Check anywhere that coolant could drip/spray onto an exhaust component. There is a short hose (2") that joins the lower intake to the upper and it is right above the exhaust crossover pipe. If it leaks it will steam like a bastard. The other thing is the heater hose that wraps around from the water pump. that hose passes right over the rear exhaust manifold. That one would maybe make some more sense. Because it is at the rear and it would steam alot, plus the cab fresh air intake is right above there.

If it is your heater core, you will most likely have a leak inside the cab. Make sure that it is steaming under ther hood and not just inside the cab.

Hope this helps.

Lyle

[Fedaykin]

oh also, when i open the hood there is no vapour, its only coming into the passenger compartment whether the fan is on or not, but the fan helps it come in of course.

i'm going out to check now.

[Fedaykin]

ok, so it gets worse when the heat is on, otherwise its just a trickle of vapour. I'm sure its the block heater... time to rip apart the dash i guess.

It must have been water dripping before because there is no drip now under the car.

[Fedaykin]

heater core is replaced, it was leaking.

i broke a hard line though, a coolant line that goes to the front of the engine down the passenger side. so i'm just going to run a hose all the way there. do that tomorrow.

thanks for the help guys.

[Lyle's GTP]

Good, that hard line will just cause you grief in the future anyway. Running a rubber hose is a WAY better system.

Lyle

[Fedaykin]

oh, just to clear everything up for everyone... there is a plastic shroud that goes around the heater core, it also has an overflow dump-tube that purges into the engine bay, thats why I saw coolant under the car.

[Lyle's GTP]

Well, that's good. Nobody wants steaming hot coolant on their shoes.

Lyle

[bud36light]

it also has an overflow dump-tube that purges into the engine bay, thats why I saw coolant under the car.

Yup. gotta little hose there you want to put back on to.

[Juglenaut]

If the heater core was bad and scaly replace the water nipple on the intake while you can. Do it or you will have to break it out.