96 Honda LX...antifreeze disappearing act, but no leak in the bottle itself...what gives?

Help!!!

My temp gauge spikes to the red after a mile or so of driving and
today it started smoking under my hood, so I pull over and I notice
that the smoke wasn't coming from my engine...it was coming from the
front right hand side of my car, close to the antifreeze contanier.

So, I check the antifreeze and notice that it's empty. I filled my
car with the antifreeze water mix, but after about 5 minutes of
driving my gauge spikes up again. I jump out and check my antifreeze
and notice that it's almost half gone.

I took out the bottle to check for leaks and there wasn't any. Does
anyone have a clue where the antifreeze is going and how do I get it
to stay, so that my car doesn't over heat?

Thanks in advance...
Jonny

 

Check radiator hoses and heater hoses for leaks, both at the ends and
along the length.

Check under the engine for coolant escaping the water pump's weep
hole, and then splashing down the underside of the car.

Check oil to see if coolant is getting in there. Would be a bad
gasket allowing coolant to escape to where it shouldn't be.

Check tailpipe while engine is running. Is white smoke coming out?
That would be coolant, and again, you'd have a bad gasket.

Check the radiator visually for coolant leaks from the core. Also
make sure your radiator drain plug is tight. You probably also have a
drain plug in the block, typically a 19mm socket fits over the raised
portion. Make sure coolant isn't escaping from that drain.

Check all over for signs of coolant. Get a flashlight if needed. It
only has so many places to go.

 

Replace your head gasket.

You can try replacing the rad cap first, WITH OEM!, but don't hold your
breath for success.

 

I should have mentioned, you may also have an air bleed valve in your
cooling system. Make sure the valve is tight and not allowing coolant
to escape. It would be on the thermostat housing and look like a
little nipple with a place for a wrench to fit, around 9 mm or so.

Tegger, just out of curiosity, how in the world can you specifically
diagnose a blown gasket based on his description of the problem. It
doesn't seem very methodical.

 

===================================

You filled the reservoir, the engine drank a bunch to replace the air it
was forcing out.

Fill the reservoir to MAX, and the rad to the top. Next time the engine
is cool, do it again. It will eventually stop 'sipping' coolant but the
easiest way to tell if it's leaking is to keep it at MAX so there's some
reserve in the reservoir.

Hondas don't like to have their cooling systems neglected.

'Curly'

 

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