ArcticW

Got the **** scared outta me at the drive through.Lotsa white smoke,and an underhood check saw green coolant pooled all over the radiator cap and the top of the unit.no codes,and I caught it before the coolant went dry,but im driving with a bottle of antifreeze on standby right now.What could the problem be and how much $ will it be to fix?

96blkonblkse

iTrader: (18)

well take a look and see if there are any visible leaks or cracks? your description is pretty vague at best. Are you still driving the car? with your description the leak sounds fairly large i wouldn't risk driving it, because if you over heat once, you can risk warping the heads, which in turn means your HG could leak, and you know what that means (new engine or rebuild)

Black Maxima

My car makes antifreeze disappear, but if I put 100% water in there it takes longer to disappear. WTF is up with that?

97PKIMVQ

iTrader: (2)

My radiator is blown currently. I blew the upper tank or somthing like that. There is a group buy on Koyo radiators for about $150 shipped.

KRRZ350

iTrader: (29)

ummmmm, are you kidding? don't put 100% water in there or you'll overheat on a warm summer day or crack a head/block on a cool winter night. $20 says it's your waterpump, look on the passanger side of the motor through the wheelwell is there coolant dripping down onto the lower oilpan? if so the water pump that is hidden under the timing cover is leeking out of the weephole.
As for the original problem, autozone rents a coolant system pressure tester, you screw it in place of the radiator cap and pressurize the system to find the leak. But you only need to do that if you have a leak, do you have a leak or a blown headgasket? if the white smoke is coming out of your tailpipe then ouch.........

Black Maxima

I hear a metallic type noise, kind of like a bad bearing from the belt side of the engine. OH ****

Black Maxima

I thought it was the alternator, but maybe not. I hear the water pump is a pain in the butt to fix.

ArcticW

Well,the water pump is likely the culprit.My moms Ford shat antifreeze like this too,and that was the problem .The car is driveable,and the engine is happy as a clam,I just have to stay on top of the coolant level.The hoses are in good shape,no leaks in any fittings and such. As far as overheating is concerned,Ive limited travel only to work and local area until next payday.

ArcticW

To clarify,there was white smoke from the hood,not tailpipe.So no head gasket horror stories...

KRRZ350

iTrader: (29)

ok cool, yeah the waterpumps on our cars always go at some point after 100k, 150k is average. It is a pain in the butt, but once the motor mount is removed it looks a little easier, read the stickies it's on here somewhere and the instructions are 100times better than the haynes. Use permetex grey, brake cleaner, and 3m automotive scuff pad to seal the covers like a pro so you don't get any oil leaks from the timing cover.

NCSUpilot

215k on mine and still going strong...