In the summer heat, problems with engine cooling occur much more often than in winter. Loss of coolant is one of the most common faults that cause overheating.
In the vast majority of cases, a coolant leak can be seen visually. A puddle under the car will tell you where to look for a leaky place in the cooling system. But sometimes there are situations when the liquid disappears, and no leaks are visible. Let’s figure out what to do in these cases.
See also: How to fix the car engine cooling system on the road
Flowing into the salon
If the problem is in the stove radiator or the pipes leading to it, then the coolant will flow into the car interior. This is usually accompanied by a strong fogging of the windshield and a characteristic smell in the cabin. The mats under the feet of the driver or front passenger also get wet.
In most cases, the stove radiator is easier to replace than to repair.
In most cars, to replace the furnace radiator, you need to remove the dashboard. This is a rather laborious operation, which is not cheap. If such a nuisance occurs, you need to be prepared to leave the car in service for at least one or even several days.
Flying out the exhaust pipe
If there is a serious engine problem, such as a blown cylinder head gasket or a crack in the head itself, coolant can enter the combustion chamber. This is usually accompanied by thick white steam from the exhaust pipe. In the early stages, this can only appear if the engine warms up well.
Exhaust steam indicates a serious engine problem
If the gasket is broken or the head is cracked, then the motor requires a major overhaul. This is a rather expensive operation that requires several days, weeks or even months of repair, taking into account the time for the delivery of spare parts.
Evaporates
Coolant loss in small amounts, from a few hundred grams to half a liter per year, is normal. Over time, it evaporates and comes out through the pressure relief valve (usually located on the cap of the expansion tank).
The coolant level is checked at every service.
Adding coolant in small quantities is a normal process. During scheduled maintenance, the craftsmen always check the level and add fluid if necessary.
Gets into engine oil
The ingress of coolant into the engine oil can be associated with both a punctured cylinder head and a faulty heat exchanger. If such a nuisance occurs, then the oil level in the engine rises, and an emulsion forms under the oil filler cap.
On some vehicles, a malfunction or leak in the engine coolant pump can cause coolant to enter the engine oil.
If coolant enters the engine oil, an emulsion is created
Also, many modern cars have an automatic transmission oil heat exchanger. In the event of a malfunction, coolant may enter the automatic transmission. In this case, problems arise almost immediately in the operation of the box. Yes, and the oil level in it increases.
See also: How to flush the cooling system
If a broken cylinder head gasket entails a serous engine repair, then the situation with heat exchangers is simpler – if a malfunction is detected in time and the coolant does not have time to harm the engine or automatic transmission, everything can be done by replacing the heat exchanger and working fluids.
Conclusion
If the coolant disappears to no one knows where, you need to find the cause of this phenomenon as soon as possible. Finding and fixing the cause of a problem can save you a lot of money and time.
2023-07-15 16:09:00
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