Coolant loss

[medicine man]

I have a 04 Impala that has been using antifreeze. Car still on warrenty and was told by chevy dealer that they could not find a leak ( pressure tested) I'am adding about 8 oz of 50/50 dexkool a week to keep the system where it should be. Average about 350mi/wk
They told me to bring it back if it continued to use coolant. which I will of course.
I' am wondering if it could be related to a faulty head gasket?
Any one have or heard of anything like this happing to them
Thanks

 

[Baldie88]

If you have the 3400 engine it probably is a head gasket. I've got the 3400 engine in my 01 Olds Silhouette. Same symptoms you had. A friend who use to work at a Chevy dealer told me I'd be back before 50K miles with a head gasket problem. His in his Buick went bad about 45K miles. I just had mine redone and I've got 46K miles. Don't know what miles you have but that would be my guess. Dealer fixed this under warranty. Had other people tell me that this engine is noted for it's head gasket failures around 50K miles.

Hope this helps.

Ron
"Baldie88"

 

[medicine man]

Thanks I;ve already called chevy but am going to watch it for a week or so. Yes it is the 3.4 and it has 16.000 mi.

 

[waterboy1976]

Ive worked for a Chev dealer for 10 years...and sounds like you need to find a new dealer...Any 3.4 thats using coolant gets an intake gasket replaced at our dealership.....It leaks out and evaporates/burns off from the heat of the motor or is running into the enigine and going through your exhaust system...do you smell the sweet smell of coolant after a drive? If so...find another dealer and get that intake gasket replaced......In 2004 GM DID change intake gaskets to the newer version but depending on the build date yours may have the old one.....

 

[medicine man]

Thanks. I have had issues with this dealer in past. but hesitate to switch because I know they will do the work. They said this AM that a pressure test was done and no loss of pressure but if it continued to use coolant bring it back.

I hope its only the intake gasket and not the head gasket. nothing in oil and no sweet smell
. I did however notice before I took it to dealer an oil like build up in front of engine just under intake on black block I wiped up a bunch and it did wash off with plain water. This has not reappeard, but will wait till next Monday to take it in. Have one more 80 mi drive this week to see how much it's using. And have taken a picture of tank topped off.
Thanks again. Why could'nt you be at a dealer in AZ?

 

[curtis]

Mom's car was also using a small amount of coolant with no leaks found. Eventually the motor completely seized up. The dealer said it was a lower intake leak. If it used coolant before do you think it will stop all by itself? Our dealer said it was nothing to worry about. Obviously he didn't know squat.

 

[JohnZ]

Mom's car was also using a small amount of coolant with no leaks found. Eventually the motor completely seized up. The dealer said it was a lower intake leak. If it used coolant before do you think it will stop all by itself? Our dealer said it was nothing to worry about. Obviously he didn't know squat.

There's a factory TSB on that issue, and he just didn't want to do the job for the factory warranty flat-rate; he'd rather you wait 'til it's out of warranty so he can get $80/hr. plus marked-up parts for the job. :eyerole

 

[bradfordsvettes]

also sounds like intake to me Steve

 

[DarkBlue]

In January 2005, I picked up my '81 from the body shop (3 months waiting for a door skin and window parts). Started it up and noticed smoke from underneath. There was always a drip here and there, but this was new. Mechanic says coolant leaking from the intake manifold and burning on the exhaust. I put in new gaskets and no more leaks. Nine months later, I hear a sound at the front of the engine and think it's a noisy water pump or fan clutch. As I walk from side to side, I finally notice the overflow bottle is empty. I fill it with coolant and the noise ends. There have been no leaks on the garage floor and no smoke or smell. I'm guessing it's leaking somewhere, but I can't see it. I really don't want to replace the gaskets again. I had to move or remove about 75 parts to get the manifold off and then put it all back together. Am I in for some trouble? Gene.

 

[bill81vette]

check around the underside of the water pump..check the oil to see if its gotten a milky look to it,also check around the radiator as best you can with a flshlite to see if you can find any marks from the coolant leaking out,if you cant find any you might have a bad head gasket or worse a cracked head..:ugh good luck,bill