Beating My Head Against the Wall: Can't Find Coolant Leak

[rico05]

I have yet to do a compression test, but I am pretty sure that my hg is in good shape (good power, no oil in coolant or coolant in oil, no overheat, no boiling over) BUT every morning, I pop my rad cap and low and behold, I am about 2-5 tablespoons (guessing) low on coolant. Never more (Unless I go a week w/o checking...but even then it is not much) and never really less. I have replaced EVERY coolant line on the motor LITERALLY, and the coolant overflow tank rarely has anything in it. There are no more leaks in the system that I can find. I am running a copper rad with metal endtanks (have been told it is a 280ZX one) and a Nismo rad cap. The thermostat is new, and the temp gauge never goes past a little about the middle of its sweep. I am at a loss here guys! Any ideas??

[float_6969]

I doubt you're loosing coolant. Pressurized coolant systems work differently. As the coolant heats up, it expands, forcing the air out of the radiator cap, into the overflow bottle. As it cools it contracts. With a stiff radiator cap, like the NISMO unit, the vacuum created inside of the system may cause air to form. but as soon as the car is started back up, the coolant will heat, expand, and the air will be forced out of the system, or back into a liquid state. If you can't see coolant leaking, and aren't smelling it burning, and don't see any HG leaking. I wouldn't be worried about it. I THINK mine does the same thing.

[CA19DET]

cehck your water jackets

[rico05]

Color me retarded, but how would i do that? Pull the head off? I would REALLY like to avoid doing that LOL.

[float_6969]

I don't know if I can color you retarded, but I'd like to smack you silly, is that OK?

[boost_boy]

cehck your water jackets

???? (j/k) But seriously, why would he do that when his engine assembled already and he's been driving. "Rico" I wouldn't worry about it that much. As long as you're not overheating and nothing strange seems to be happening, enjoy your car and leave the worrying to me.

Dee

[NeedCAforS13]

yep. for awhile mine was loosing some coolant... but then it stopped. I didn't worry about it, just added fluid whenever it needed it, and went on my way.

Sean

[rico05]

I just feel ghetto not only having to warm my car up every morning, but also having to fill the coolant as well. I did just find and fix a leak about 4-5 days ago, so I may still be battling against air pockets LOL.

[themadscientist]

I don't know if I can color you retarded, but I'd like to smack you silly, is that OK?

Oh that's a sig!

[float_6969]

Holy crap. I've been taken to a whole new level of "coolness". I just made it into TMS's sig.

I could die happy right now...

[slownslurious]

mine does the same damn thing, checked and replaced the pinhole leaks that it had, and if I don't top off every week or so it will be down a decent bit (1 liter or more). In fact I have been driving a lot lately and it was down about 2 liters yesterday because I went for 2 weeks without topping off. Its a real pain in the *** and I'm thinking about buying a UV die kit for it to see if I have a leak somewhere.

[rico05]

Well, mine is just a few ounces every day. I have a long drive and dyno day comming up, I just hope my cooling syste won't crap out on me LOL.