Where'd my coolant go?! Empty overflow reservoir!

[00Beast]

I'd be willing to guess the LIM's are the culprit...

Your system is always under pressure. It's not going to make them fail if they aren't already...

[Ludichris]

I'd be willing to guess the LIM's are the culprit...

Your system is always under pressure. It's not going to make them fail if they aren't already...

...but the outside by the LIM's appears dry all the way around, and internal leaking, I'm guessing isn't a possibility because the oil looks perfect like it should (the oil on there is Mobil One and has about 5K on it). *scratching head*

[01bonneSC]

I'd be willing to guess the LIM's are the culprit...

Your system is always under pressure. It's not going to make them fail if they aren't already...

...but the outside by the LIM's appears dry all the way around, and internal leaking, I'm guessing isn't a possibility because the oil looks perfect like it should (the oil on there is Mobil One and has about 5K on it). *scratching head*

It could be leaking into the intake ports on the heads and not getting into the oil passages.

[harofreak00]

Yes, its probably leaking into the intake ports and burning it off.

You probably really don't want to hear this, but just take a minute to think about it. If you have you take out a $1k loan to do a standard maintenance item on your car, you probably shouldn't be driving that car. You should probably be driving a $1500-2000 car while you can save up to get ahead in life.

[Grimm]

When I had a shop do my UIM a few years ago, it was only like another $300 to do the lower. But they didn't think it was necessary, so 2 years later I did the lower myself. For the day I spent, I wish I had let them do it the first time.

[harofreak00]

ONLY $300? You guys are getting screwed over. It takes the shop maybe another 10-20 minutes in labor to remove 12 bolts, remove the lower intake, clean it up and reinstall it with new gaskets. Parts should only cost $50-60.

Please take your car to someone who doesn't rape you if you can't do it yourself.

[nos4blood70]

Furthermore, it isn't really hard to do it yourself. The Techinfo article may look daunting, but having helped do Penny's LIM, I was able to do my friend's Firebird, and then my Uncle's SE. It took less time each time around. I'm guessing it shouldn't take more than 5 hours for a first timer. It took me and Will a little over 3 hours to do Penny's. I took me about 4 to do the Firebird. And then only barely 3 to do my Uncle's SE with his and my dad's help.

[myfirstbonnie]

It takes me all day

Only because I like to drink some beers a bs a lot.

Also, if he has to remove the LIM, the UIM gasket is rubber and would not need to be replaced again. You already have it at the shop, but if nothing else you could do the LIM yourself later with some assistance.

You could also have had a leak at the TB gasket and the coolant was being sucked in from there.

IMHO, it is best to just freshen up the whole top end when doing this job. That includes a new thermostat, valve cover gaskets and water pump. This job done correctly will add many years to the life of these motors.

[Ludichris]

You probably really don't want to hear this, but just take a minute to think about it. If you have you take out a $1k loan to do a standard maintenance item on your car, you probably shouldn't be driving that car. You should probably be driving a $1500-2000 car while you can save up to get ahead in life.

I've had all day to think about it, and actually I think the same thing I thought when I first read it - that your comment has to be the most ignorant comment I've ever read on this forum. I won't derail this thread by explaining exactly 'why' it's an ignorant comment here, but I may in the lounge or general chat area.

[Ludichris]

Furthermore, it isn't really hard to do it yourself. The Techinfo article may look daunting, but having helped do Penny's LIM, I was able to do my friend's Firebird, and then my Uncle's SE. It took less time each time around. I'm guessing it shouldn't take more than 5 hours for a first timer. It took me and Will a little over 3 hours to do Penny's. I took me about 4 to do the Firebird. And then only barely 3 to do my Uncle's SE with his and my dad's help.

Yeah, I know, I get that, but I don't have a garage, and also my weekends are usually pretty booked solid. Especially right now when I'm out of state every other weekend through the end of the year. I've read the Techinfo article, and I'm not saying it looks "easy", but if I had a garage, a full weekend, and borrowed (or bought) a couple more tools, I could do it, I just don't have it at my disposal at the moment.

**Update: He had the UIM buttoned up already this morning, so I wasn't able to catch him to do the LIM's before it was too late. It wouldn't have mattered, he had it done last evening right before he left. But - he did say that the throttle body gasket looked to be in pretty bad shape, and there was signs of seepage/dripping on that gasket. He warmed it up this morning, drove it around, didn't find any leaks. So, that's where we're at...it could have been the throttle body gasket. In the meantime I have a new upper manifold, and the DexCool no longer resides in my cooling system, which is good.

[spoiledred94]

I did the loan to keep the car but I wouldn't want to do it again because $1000 really doesn't go far in moderate car repairs, and you need rubber. Saving money for a new car would be grate and eventually you may get away from repair bills. To me the bottom line is is asking yourself how I feel about that very car.

[Jazzy]

I suddenly had the same problem and solved it by just replacing the cap on the coolant tank. Had never considered that until a mechanic pointed it out to me. He said a bad cap could cause coolant loss as hot coolant boils away with a bad cap. My 21 year old cap had a crack on the side and no sealer gasket left. $8 for a new Dorman cap and problem was gone. (I had replaced the LIM gasket and manifold a couple years ago and had never lost any coolant since, until this cap episode last week.)

[luke_dubs]

I suddenly had the same problem and solved it by just replacing the cap on the coolant tank. Had never considered that until a mechanic pointed it out to me. He said a bad cap could cause coolant loss as hot coolant boils away with a bad cap. My 21 year old cap had a crack on the side and no sealer gasket left. $8 for a new Dorman cap and problem was gone. (I had replaced the LIM gasket and manifold a couple years ago and had never lost any coolant since, until this cap episode last week.)

You know you replied to a 9 year old thread, right?

[Erinyes]

On the good side, now I know to check the reservoir cap :-)

[Jazzy]

Nine years old to you, 9 days old to me. Just trying to help out.