Coolant issue.

[terrancew3]

Okay, so just before winter I flushed my coolant and when I filled the reserve tank, I had the coolant line just above "Full when Hot". Now earlier today I opened my hood, and noticed the coolant line is now below the "Full when Hot" mark with the engine at full temp. Could it be that some air bubbles got filled in with coolant, and the level lowered or is there a possibility that there could be a leak? I never saw coolant on the ground under my car before, and my exhaust isn't white. Nor is my oil that creamy color. How do you know for sure a gasket isn't starting to give way?

[01bonneSC]

Have your LIM gaskets been changed?

[terrancew3]

Not that I know of. I highly doubt it, cause the previous owner was some older lady that probably new nothing about the car. Plus, I really don't have the time or money to have someone take it apart and replace it anyways. How much does that usually cost to replace?

[01bonneSC]

Gaskets and your time.

You don't have the upper intake manifold since you have a supercharger but the lower intake manifold gaskets are really prone to failure.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... c3591.html


Check between the cylinder head and lower intake manifold...if its a black gasket, old style. If its silver/aluminum looking then this the better gaskets. ALL the stock pladtic style ones failed, the DexCool eats them.

Another good read...
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... c1061.html

[imidazol97]

the coolant line just above "Full when Hot". Now earlier today I opened my hood, and noticed the coolant line is now below the "Full when Hot" mark with the engine at full temp.

If you drained the coolant, air got into the heater core area. As you refilled, that air didn't get pushed out and there likely was air in the upper radiator hose/thermostat area. To get the air out of the heater, when the engine is fully warmed up, run the engine at 2000-2500 rpm for 10 seconds or so. Repeat 4 more times. I usually park with the radiator uphill on my driveway to help the air migrate to the highest point. Then you're supposed to use the bleeder screw on the thermostat housing to get the rest of the air out.

Watch the level now for a couple weeks and see if it drops more. If so then you need to get interested in finding the leak and it might be the lower intake gaskets. If the level stays about the same, then some air may have worked out of the system after you earlier flush and refill.

[terrancew3]

the coolant line just above "Full when Hot". Now earlier today I opened my hood, and noticed the coolant line is now below the "Full when Hot" mark with the engine at full temp.

If you drained the coolant, air got into the heater core area. As you refilled, that air didn't get pushed out and there likely was air in the upper radiator hose/thermostat area. To get the air out of the heater, when the engine is fully warmed up, run the engine at 2000-2500 rpm for 10 seconds or so. Repeat 4 more times. I usually park with the radiator uphill on my driveway to help the air migrate to the highest point. Then you're supposed to use the bleeder screw on the thermostat housing to get the rest of the air out.

Watch the level now for a couple weeks and see if it drops more. If so then you need to get interested in finding the leak and it might be the lower intake gaskets. If the level stays about the same, then some air may have worked out of the system after you earlier flush and refill.

Yeah, thats what I did after I put new coolant back in it was use that bleeder screw. Maybe I didn't get it all out, so we'll see. If it gets any lower I will know then its the gasket.

[terrancew3]

Gaskets and your time.

You don't have the upper intake manifold since you have a supercharger but the lower intake manifold gaskets are really prone to failure.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... c3591.html


Check between the cylinder head and lower intake manifold...if its a black gasket, old style. If its silver/aluminum looking then this the better gaskets. ALL the stock pladtic style ones failed, the DexCool eats them.

Another good read...
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... c1061.html

Yeah, there is no way I would know how to do that lower gasket by myself... I know some car maintanance, but when it comes to tearing a motor apart, that ain't me. Since I already have to change my valve cover gaskets, what other gaskets are there that are prone to fail over time?

[redzmonte]

Yeah, there is no way I would know how to do that lower gasket by myself... I know some car maintanance, but when it comes to tearing a motor apart, that ain't me. Since I already have to change my valve cover gaskets, what other gaskets are there that are prone to fail over time?

lol Lower intake Gaskets... its not that hard actually just takes time and make sure you get all the bolts and reinstall in reverse order. its kinda messy but thats it, follow up with oil change. if the gasets are not leaking dont need to do them yet but if they have not been done expect to have to get them done sometime.

S

[terrancew3]

Yeah, there is no way I would know how to do that lower gasket by myself... I know some car maintanance, but when it comes to tearing a motor apart, that ain't me. Since I already have to change my valve cover gaskets, what other gaskets are there that are prone to fail over time?

lol Lower intake Gaskets... its not that hard actually just takes time and make sure you get all the bolts and reinstall in reverse order. its kinda messy but thats it, follow up with oil change. if the gasets are not leaking dont need to do them yet but if they have not been done expect to have to get them done sometime.

S

Well, this car being my daily driver I really have no time to get it done myself. And now that I am back in school, I definitely don't have time for it. If I had an alternate car to drive for the time being, I would try and tackle the job myself. But, unfortunately I don't and I'm stuck with little jobs that take hours instead of days to do.