Coolant Leak...

[null_q]

So I am slowly losing coolant, and it has been boiling out of the overflow reservoir as I drive. I cannot figure out what has been causing this. I took it to a mechanic and he replaced the radiator cap, and this worked for a couple of months, but I started losing coolant again recently out of the reservoir.

I also get really bad fogging on the windshield inside the car, and it's very greasy/oily. I keep cleaning it, and the fog keeps appearing. Ocassionally, I can also smell coolant inside the car, and it is very obvious that it is coolant.

I assumed my heater core was leaking so I took it out, but found no major signs of leaking, in or around the heater box.

So I am pretty stuck, any suggestions?

 

[johnathan1]

wow, that's weird... Is there still weatherstripping under the hood, at the base of the windshield?

Pressure test the cooling system, and check for leaks, @ 20psi, most leaks become pretty obvious. Also, is there any white smoke coming out of the exhaust?

 

[IJ.]

2) is a leaking heater core.

Could be a symptom of a BHG or the cause of the overflow due to air pockets when it leaks inside the car.

 

[null_q]

There is weatherstripping at the base of the windshield, And I do get puffs of smoke on startup after the car has sat for ahwile.

I guessed BHG after it started overflowing again, but I did a block test and found no sign of combustion gasses in the coolant. I'm not sure if that would completely rule out a BHG or not though.

Thanks a lot for your replies.

Oh and the mechanic pressure tested it when he had the car and found no leaks, this was a couple of months ago.

 

[mkIIIman089]

Like IJ. said, your windshield is a heater core gone bad.

 

[null_q]

Alright, I just ordered a new one.

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[iwannadie]

ya i had the same windshield issue when my core went bad. i bypassed it since i never used it.

 

[supramacist]

I was about to say heater core, but I have never had one of those go oily. I had an 89 ford taurus sho that I replaced the HC, it went out again and I bypassed it. It'll still blow warm air in the winter. Well...., warmer than outside, hahahahaha