I'm burning antifreeze..... Help!

[white rabbit]

If anyone knows of a mechanic that is good in Edmonton and has worked on Delicas please let me know. It seems like it might be the head gasket but I don't know for sure. The symptoms are white smoke upon startup and loss of antifreeze. I have lost roughly three liters of antifreeze in the last few days and don't seem to have any large spots of antifreeze in my parking area or a regular drip.

Thanks for any help,

Tim Moore

Edmonton

[white rabbit]

The other thing is that there is no milkyness to the oil and there isn't any oil in the coolant. That is why I am not sure it is the head gasket.

[jrman]

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I'm afraid it probably is a duck. That's alot of coolant loss in a short period of time and if it's not in your oil, and you've got the dreaded "steam" - then indications are you need the gasket. Had same problem in an old Nissan, but coolant loss was much slower and ran the car for year before finally having the head gasket done. Recommend professional help at this point.

[Jester]

It is the head gasket.
Depending on which part of the gasket breaks, you get either loss of compression, or oil comming out, or (like in your case) coolant mixing with oil .
don't drive it like that.
Head gasket is a pain in the behind enough by itself, but not that expensive to fix, but if you keep driving it with coolant in the oil you're going to seize the motor, and it'll cost a whole bunch more.

Look at the bright side.
It'll afford you an opportunity to change the water pump, timing belt, perhaps hone the cylinders, by the end of it, your motor will be like new.

...
..
but DO NOT continue driving the car in that condition.

[docsavage]

Mine loses antifreeze after some steep hills, or long steady climbs on the highway. It runs out from the overflow hose on the plastic expansion tank. When I fill it to the full line, it inevitably bubbles some out until it is at the add line then is happy as a pig in poop to work without overheating there. The hose drains out from behind the passenger side tire. Look for coolant coming out of there after a good hill, whats that one out of the river valley onto 109th Street? It should work it hard enough.

Also check the heater cores for leaks. You are probably starting to use the heaters more and maybe one has blown out.

James

[white rabbit]

I am getting 35 miles to the gallon and the engine is running great. The coolant has not mixed either with the oil or the oil with the coolant so it seems to be a leak that I'm narrowing down.

Thanks for the suggestions

Tim

[robinimpey]

I would concur with the previous assessment that you probably do have a head gasket leak, and while the parts are inexpensive the time is what will get you. I would not be driving while you had a head gasket leak, even if you don't think it's getting into the oil. Get it fixed now and it will be relatively inexpensive. If you do get antifreeze in your oil it's like diamonds on glass for your bearings and you can seriously damage your engine in a short period of time. I have an '88 Bronco that I replaced the head gaskets on myself which was not complicated, just needed time. Mind you the engine isn't mounted under the front seat either!

35 MPG? That's great fuel economy.

Good luck with

[Jester]

I am getting 35 miles to the gallon and the engine is running great. The coolant has not mixed either with the oil or the oil with the coolant so it seems to be a leak that I'm narrowing down.

Thanks for the suggestions

Tim

actually, I just re-read your first post and noticed you say " white smoke on startup"
It's normal for any car to puff water vapor when it's warming up, especially when it's cold out.
Perhaps your problem is something lesser.
If it's a leak, you should be able to see it, coolant can't just disapear.