3rd Generation Maxima (1989-1994) Learn more about the 3rd Generation Maxima here.

Where the $%#* is my coolant going!?!?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-28-2007, 08:09 PM
  #1  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
CyMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 887
Where the $%#* is my coolant going!?!?

Alright, newly replaced radiator, upper and lower coolant hoses, no leaks visable there. No leaks from heater hoses, no wet carpet inside, and coolant reads 0 hydrocarbons, so where oh where is roughly 32 oz every 3-5 days going?!?!?
CyMax is offline  
Old 07-28-2007, 08:30 PM
  #2  
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
internetautomar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Skokie (look it up)
Posts: 19,760
into the oil?
internetautomar is offline  
Old 07-28-2007, 08:45 PM
  #3  
Member
 
whitemax89's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 98
I would say change ur water pump same thing was happening on my friends lexus ls400 it was not visible but it was some how leaking. but he didnt get it fixed it just stopped on him.
whitemax89 is offline  
Old 07-28-2007, 09:07 PM
  #4  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
CyMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 887
Originally Posted by internetautomar
into the oil?
No problems there, just changed and definitely no water there, I'm starting to doubt the integrity of the water pump.
CyMax is offline  
Old 07-28-2007, 09:08 PM
  #5  
Banned
 
elusivemax93's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Okc 405
Posts: 999
new water pump about 100 dollars brand new at Autozone or you can go the other route and go buy it OEM from Nissan.
elusivemax93 is offline  
Old 07-28-2007, 10:59 PM
  #6  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (14)
 
aminus21's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,019
Did you replace the radiator cap?
aminus21 is offline  
Old 07-29-2007, 01:21 AM
  #7  
LvR
Senior Member
 
LvR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Pretoria - South Africa
Posts: 1,205
Originally Posted by CyMax
Alright, newly replaced radiator, upper and lower coolant hoses, no leaks visable there. No leaks from heater hoses, no wet carpet inside, and coolant reads 0 hydrocarbons, so where oh where is roughly 32 oz every 3-5 days going?!?!?
Properly clean an area in the garage and put down dry brown paper (the stuff they use to cover books with) on an area about 2m but 2m. Make sure the motor is cold (morning) and the cooling system is properly filled.

Park the car with the engine situated roughly in the middle of the paper.

Start the motor and leave it idling while you go have a beer.

Find the wife/girlfriend and bring her to the garage after about an hour.

Remove car from above the paper and ask wife/gf to roll around naked on the paper - I can guarantee you she will find the wet spot and you will know the exact location of the liquid leak and the answer to the mystery.
LvR is offline  
Old 07-29-2007, 06:44 AM
  #8  
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
internetautomar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Skokie (look it up)
Posts: 19,760
Originally Posted by LvR
Properly clean an area in the garage and put down dry brown paper (the stuff they use to cover books with) on an area about 2m but 2m. Make sure the motor is cold (morning) and the cooling system is properly filled.

Park the car with the engine situated roughly in the middle of the paper.

Start the motor and leave it idling while you go have a beer.

Find the wife/girlfriend and bring her to the garage after about an hour.

Remove car from above the paper and ask wife/gf to roll around naked on the paper - I can guarantee you she will find the wet spot and you will know the exact location of the liquid leak and the answer to the mystery.
LOLERZ ! !
internetautomar is offline  
Old 07-29-2007, 06:17 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
92 Max's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 702
There's also a pump that you can attach to the radiator where the cap goes and super pressurize the system. This makes the leak stand out like niagra falls. A radiator shop should have this.
92 Max is offline  
Old 07-29-2007, 06:51 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Sevorg1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 125
Originally Posted by aminus21
Did you replace the radiator cap?
do you have a strait 50/50 mix in there maybe the water is evaporating because your system is not sealed, try the radiator cap
Sevorg1 is offline  
Old 07-29-2007, 08:20 PM
  #11  
Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Tampamaximus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 197
+1 to water pump
Tampamaximus is offline  
Old 07-30-2007, 01:11 AM
  #12  
Please. Call me John. I insist
iTrader: (7)
 
ColombianMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 4,948
Originally Posted by LvR
Properly clean an area in the garage and put down dry brown paper (the stuff they use to cover books with) on an area about 2m but 2m. Make sure the motor is cold (morning) and the cooling system is properly filled.

Park the car with the engine situated roughly in the middle of the paper.

Start the motor and leave it idling while you go have a beer.

Find the wife/girlfriend and bring her to the garage after about an hour.

Remove car from above the paper and ask wife/gf to roll around naked on the paper - I can guarantee you she will find the wet spot and you will know the exact location of the liquid leak and the answer to the mystery.

LMAO dude thats genius! I'm gonna try that tomorrow, I mean later...
ColombianMax is offline  
Old 07-30-2007, 01:16 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
alextothestars's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 405
when my waterpump went out (was intermittent at first), the coolant was overflowing from the little overflow hose on the coolant resevoir. when it really went, though, it seeped out of the waterpump seal.
alextothestars is offline  
Old 07-30-2007, 03:40 AM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Jon94SE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Washington
Posts: 563
I would try the radiator cap first. Not only because it's the cheapest, but because if you can't find any leak it's most likely the cap isn't holding pressure on the system and the water is boiling at a lower tempature than usual.
Jon94SE is offline  
Old 07-30-2007, 08:28 AM
  #15  
Please. Call me John. I insist
iTrader: (7)
 
ColombianMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 4,948
Originally Posted by Jon94SE
I would try the radiator cap first. Not only because it's the cheapest, but because if you can't find any leak it's most likely the cap isn't holding pressure on the system and the water is boiling at a lower tempature than usual.

Time for a new cap from the dealer, yay 16 bucks here ya go!
ColombianMax is offline  
Old 07-30-2007, 09:10 PM
  #16  
Member
 
RyderMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 75
+1 for rad cap, then +1 for water pump.

Had a similar problem - and couldn't see the puddle 'cause I have a gravel driveway. Went to a conference one week, and saw the puddle under the car (and following the slope of the underground parkade).

m
RyderMax is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Miket2006
6th Generation Maxima (2004-2008)
4
03-01-2021 03:55 AM
captchaos
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
17
03-15-2016 12:18 PM
foodmanry
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
10
09-24-2015 12:02 PM
msellas
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
09-23-2015 09:16 PM
junito1
Audio and Electronics
3
09-23-2015 12:14 PM



Quick Reply: Where the $%#* is my coolant going!?!?



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:08 PM.