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Antifreeze and steam

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Old 10-18-2003, 04:18 PM
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Default Antifreeze and steam

I came back from a drive today (50km round trip)
20 minutes after I got home I went out side and steam was coming from the front passanger side of the hood, (a little bit)
So I popped the hood and Steam looked like it was coming from the water pump and there was anti-freeze on the belt.
Is it the upper intake?
Is it the water pump?
Am I screwed? lol..
Old 10-18-2003, 04:24 PM
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It'* from where the water is leaking.
Old 10-18-2003, 05:05 PM
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Passanger side of the intake, or top of the water pump, theres water in both places.
The rad was down 3'' and Im not sure about the tank.
Also theres this chunky greasy white stuff-I think silicon (small amounts) in the rad
L27 engine, 215,000km 136,000miles
Should I get it flushed and pressurized? see where the leak is. It has a lower then stock pressure rad cap, is that good/bad?
Or is there a better way?
Old 10-18-2003, 07:40 PM
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1992
Im going to drive it tonight, It might have been a burp (hints the silicon) I quess I'll know when the " SNS " or the "Low Coolent" bells go off... or smoke billowing from the hood
hmm.. I would rather a blow intake gasket or blown out silicon rather then a cracked intake, but it mite be the intake because it wasnt that much of a leak... also It didn't start to smoke untill I let it sit there...
Old 10-18-2003, 08:01 PM
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I had something like that happen when the water pump on my 85 grand am went. I started smelling anti-freeze about 2 weeks before it went. and the day it went it started to steam bad and eventually I lost all my coolant. Hopefully a water pump ends up being your problem and not an intake. Good luck!
Old 10-18-2003, 11:12 PM
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You sure it'* not just the gasket?
Old 10-19-2003, 01:25 AM
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For the last ten minutes ive been talking myself into believing that...
the only reason why there was steam is because I burnt up a bit of anti-freeze on the way in 140-170km/h holding for 20km- I might have forgot to say that...
Then on the way back 110-160km/h for 20km- I wasnt in such a rush to get home then I let the car sit... as I did that it was starving to fill the rad, so it puked what was in the over flow tank into the tube to quickly and sprayed it all over the front of the engine (hints the water was everywhere)

Now to back this theory up...

Before my wife left tonight I filled the rad and put some in the over flow...
When she got back I let it sit... 5minutes..
went out.. no water, no leak, no steam, NO PROBLEM?


Maybe i'll leave for work a little earlyer tomorrow..
Old 10-19-2003, 01:29 AM
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If it'* not the pump like the others suggested (fingers crossed) BarsLeaks is great for tiny little leaks like that....
Old 10-19-2003, 01:34 AM
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Tofu, have you considered the possibility of that under-pressured cap venting at too low a pressure? Is there a leak at the outlet under the cap that could have been blowing back over the water pump at speed?
Old 10-26-2003, 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by willwren
Tofu, have you considered the possibility of that under-pressured cap venting at too low a pressure? Is there a leak at the outlet under the cap that could have been blowing back over the water pump at speed?
I don't know what you mean by that... hole?
The cap is 16lb... non-stock..

It is continuing to be a problem, I will try to get it in a shop... powerflush it.. pressurize it... find the leak... my mechanic buddy thinks its the water pump seal...
I wanna get this fixxed before winter... I dont wanna restort to getting rid of this thing... :?
anyone know if its series 1 or series 2 supercharged engine in the 95 riviera?
I might have to go 4 door soon anyway...


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