Leaking Coolant

**nav** · 07-18-2010

I have a 97 Grand Prix 3.8L non supercharged, I live in Phx Arizona so its always hot. It has been leaking from somewhere by the coolant tank on the drivers side so Ive just been watching it and adding what I can but, The other day I was driving to Class and I noticed my temp gauge was near 260F so i pulled off and got a ride from a friend. Later that night I went back to get it and added a gallon of water just to get it home and it was fine. Today I decided to do a Radiator flush, instead of draining it from the drain plugs I just removed the two main coolant hoses and let it drain. Then I just took my hose and flushed it out from the bottom outlet a couple times. I put it all back together and and added coolant. Its soppose to hold about 2.55 gallons but it was full after only 1 so I assume its just from the amount left in the engine. So I started it and let it run and it slowly got to 210F and stayed there, but what I am worried about is that like I stated before When it gets hot or to operating temp it has a solid steam of coolant leaking from the drivers side near the coolant tank, it leaks for a couple min and slowly stops. I dont know where exactly and I dont know if I just overfilled it but if I did then Why did it do that before? Anything you can tell me about it will help alot.

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 07-18-2010

are you opening up the bleeder to let the air out of the system???

**nav** · 07-18-2010

No I didnt, Would that be a common cause?

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 07-19-2010

yep. you got to ge tthe air out or it will over pressure the system and cause over heating problems. open the bleeder and let the engine get up to operating temp and let the themostat kick on and watch the air bubble come out and then you just wait till straight anti freeze comes out then the air should be out.

do you know where the bleeder is???

**nav** · 07-19-2010

No I dont, I remember reading about it, So I let it run with the bleeder open?

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 07-19-2010

the bleeder is on top of where the tstat is , just follow the upper rad hose and on top on the little half ball should be a nut, un screw that a few cranks and then.......

steps:

1. take the rad cap off while the car is off
2. turn the car on and let it run

*this can get a little messy here because the rad cap is off the car will push some of the coolant out of the top which is normal, keep reading here and I will tell what to do about that.*

3. let it keep running untill the motor get warm and to operating temp
4. the TSTAT will open when it gets hot enough and the upper RAD hose will get really hot too, the bleeder will then be letting the air out of the system
5. when the upper hose gets hot the car then starts sucking in more coolant, at this point you should be adding coolant back in untill its started getting up to the top or the RAD cap and stays there.
6. after a little while here with the adding of coolant, the level will even out, now start watching the bleeder and look to see if any air is coming out, if it just plain coolant coming out then your good and then close the bleeder
7. put the rad cap on and fill the overflow tank to hot
8. drive it a few days and re check the level in the rad.

and that should just about do it, if you got any Q's just ask.

**nav** · 07-19-2010

Perfect, thanks alot. I'll get on it tomorrow and let you know how it goes, thanks again.

**nav** · 07-19-2010

Actually i did it tonight, it all went good. I drove about 40miles, didnt over heat, it got up to about 210f and pretty much stayed there but after shut down and a few mins it still leaked from the drivers side near the coolant tank. I'm not sure if its from them spring hoses clamps or what but it was doing it before I touched it so idk. I posted a new thread about it with more details. http://www.grandprixforums.net/f17/l...ant-34036.html

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