Leakage?

[travis316]

i got a problem,when the car is idling for 10-20 minutes theres a coolant dribble in the front of the drivers side tire,is this really a leak or an overflow problem?

[blueguy]

Year of the car?

If it is a 97-98...then the overflow could be leaking...yes. That is really the only thing that is over on the driver's side...that or the upper rad hose or the petcock.

Check those too.

[travis316]

yea i checked the upper rad hose and the petcock there good and from the top of the drivers side i dont see anything but when i look in between the front drivers side tire and the wheel well theres a fast dribble,how do i fix it?

[blueguy]

I don't know...

Like I said, check the overflow bottle to see if it is leaking.

[travis316]

sorry for not posting earlier but its a 98 grand prix gt,i'll probably have to put it up on ramps to even get under it...lol

[Mad Monkey]

start looking at the TOP of the engine first then work your way down.. you could just be seeing where its accumulating and dripping off..

[travis316]

ok im off to go check and i'll be back later to let you guys know what i find thx for the info!!

[travis316]

also i have a bit of white smoke at start up almost like steam and theres water leaking from the exhaust,and a slight tick in the valves should i be worried or no?

[FordMan77]

Water from the exhuast is normal. That's you're cats doing their job. At bit of light steam is normal. Now, if the exhaust gets heavier in the white and it lingers in the air for a bit then you are eating coolant, likely from a bad LIM gasket. And no, it's not a head gasket. HG's on these motors almost never ever go. In fact it would be the LAST thing I would suspect.

Ticking could be worn lifters pumping back up after sitting all night. Does it happen at hot startup or first thing in the am?

[travis316]

its at start up,and the car was sitting for one winter season i dont know if that would have anything to do with it?

[BillBoost37]

If you answer the question of what year the car is.. it'll be much easier to help you.

[travis316]

i did in my earlier post is a 98' damn i should have posted the year first! lol

[BillBoost37]

Ok,

I'd look at the sides of the radiator. The endcaps are plastic, over time and heat cycles (expansion/contraction) they will crack. This makes it tough to find the leak, because it leaks under pressure and when it wants to.

The overflow itself. The tubes leading to it etc.

[travis316]

thank you very much! i check every inch of it! lol

[Juanmiguel]

if the radiator cap is shot, the resrvoir tank will overflow and leak from underneath the cap.