Is this a LIM problem?

[barkat]

Hi everybody. I have a 1999 Grand Prix with the 3100 SFI with about 120,000 miles on it. About two weeks ago I had the Dexcool drained out and flushed out and replaced with the green antifreeze. Since then I have noticed a smell of antifreeze from under the hood. I did find one hose clamp loose, so I tightened it up, still got the smell. I cant find any leak, or puddles. If it is losing any coolant it is not much. I have NO coolant in the oil and NO oil in the coolant. Car runs great and no SES light. I first thought maybe they just spilled some coolant on the motor and that is what I was smelling, but its been two weeks and about 1500 miles. Surely it would have burnt off by now. Are there any tips or spots to look for a leak that I am not thinking of? I did some reading on here and there seems to be a problem with the manifold gaskets. Is there a post that I did not see for a " how to fix it"? Or even a "how to determin if it is the problem"?

[Juglenaut]

RE: Is this a LIM problem?

I am sure these engines has a water nipple somewhere near the intake manifold.

[barkat]

Um, water nipple? What is it and what is it for?

[Juglenaut]

Check water connects around the LIM and stuff, if you can't find it then it is either a manifold issue or worse...You may need to remove the LIM anyway.

[sil]

is the resevoir going low, do you find yourself "topping it up" constantly ?

if its not going low then i wouldnt be too worried about it, most likely still evaporating off the rad, or wherever it was spilled, just keep an eye on the resevoir

i think if the LIM gasket was leaking, you would notice a loss of coolant, and it would most likely be leaking near the side of the heads at the lower intake manifold and block area, you can take a rag and try to stick it onto a piece of wood, or a branch or somthing pokey and wipe that general area clean, then drive it and do it again, see if there is any on the rag
i dunno lol thats what i would do

also put card board underneath your car after a good hard driving, put bricks on it so it doesnt fly away :P and let it sit overnight, notice the spots of oil/coolant/colors ect.. gives you a good idea of whats leaking

[barkat]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

[RednBlack]

Do you put the bricks on the car, or the cardboard :P

This works very well to pinpoint where a leak is. I suspect spilled coolant trapped in the exhaust shields. A blast from an air compressor blows it out.

[barkat]

Well I hed a couple of new ideas! First I went out and cleaned the engine real well, to try and help locate the leak. I also realized that the overflow bottle is kinda hard to see though. Makes it difficult to tell how much if any leakage is going on.So what I did is take a welding rod, cleaned it off real good, and stuckit it straight down the overflow bottle opening. When I pulled it back out I could tell exactly how much water is in there. Then I marked it on the rod and will recheck it in a week. I also put a new radiator cap on. So far no smell or signs of a leak.