C5 Coolant leak... kinda long.

[chris308]

The other day, i got the "low coolant" message on the DIC. So i researched and some say its a gunked up sensor in the overflow tank. So i tackled the job myself before work.

Removed the tank easy enough job. Flushed it our with water real good and let it dry in the sun. Re-install it, added dexcool to the full line and head in to work. I look out my office window, and notice my car with a stream of coolant on the ground coming out the rear of the car!! :banghead:

I popped the hood and noticed a small drip coming from the bottom of the tank where the hoses attach, i must have not put them on good. I slipped the hoses on better and clamp it down. Added water to get me home...

On the way home the car over heated and i shut it off rreal fast and parked it. I don't think i put in enough water. Luckily i had a friend follow me. I park my car at a bank, take his car to get more water, 2am no parts stores open for dexcool, had to use water.

I added almost a gallon of water, to the car and it took it, nothing spilled out. Drive home car temps are stable. 185* while cruising. I park the car and went to bed. Next day, i look to see if it leaked on my driveway, nope. I thought i was in the good.

Drive to work, temps are all normal climbs a little at a red light then drops back down while criusing. I get to work park, go inside. 20 minutes later i look out my window and see another trailing stream of coolant on the ground!! :banghead:

I go out to the car a look for the leak under the car to see the area where its dripping from, I was afraid i cracked the block or head gasket when it overheated. The drip looks like it can from right around the passenger headlight area, the damn tank again.

I turn the car on, let it idle, looked saw no leaks, looked under the car... no leaks. Temps got up to 190-195 still no leaks. I shut it off and went back to work, now writing this post.

I don't think it's coming from the block, heads or water pump. It's not over heating while idling... but it dpilled its guts for the second time tonight maybe 3-4 cups worth of coolant the stopped.

Do cars have a purge tube or something if someone like me adds too much fluids to the car?

 

[LS2POWA]

I know on the C6 when I was overheating and had to much fluid the cap itself has a line under it to purge (more like a plastic pour spout). It was pissing coolant everywhere until it decided it was cool enough.

I actually did away with using dexcool after that, my neighbor who is a huge chevy guy and spent a lot of his life working on GMs noticed that dexcool slowly eats away at most rubber hoses.

This might help.

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116256

 

[chris308]

Hey thanks for that link Corey.

My spout is broken in the same place, looks like i need to check those clamps.

 

[chris308]

Update:

Ok so after yesterday's episode of my car pissing itself. I didn't add any more fluids to it; drove home monitoring the temps and all looked fine. Got home and waited a bit and no leaks.

Drove it today some before work, ran good the temps within operating specs. Still not adding any fluids to it. No leaks.

Drove to work an hour ago, no leaks and ran fine.

So... i guess my car had too much fluid in it and it pissed it out till it was fine again...?? :shrug01:

 

[Mannings]

Keep an eye on the coolant tank itself. I'm on my third one in 11 years. Hair line cracks on the inlet nipple. Easy fix..........just cost ya about $70 bucks.

 

[gmjunkie]

Keep an eye on the coolant tank itself. I'm on my third one in 11 years. Hair line cracks on the inlet nipple. Easy fix..........just cost ya about $70 bucks.

On my second in 8/77,000!!
Seam cracked in both of mine!!:banghead:

 

[RevXtreme 1]

See that alot. At least they are pretty cheap as Mannings pointed out. Chris, check w/Gene Culley or similar discout GM parts outlet and replace it. Cheap insurance.:thumbsup:

 

[chris308]

ordered a new tank, my leak came back today and it looks wet around the seam, and lower T fitting.