Why does my car use up coolant fast?
I have a 2001 Honda civic ex and I will put coolant in the morning and fill it up and the next day or 2 it will be empty. The radiator itself has been changed back in February and I didn't have any problems up until a month ago. I have changed the censors, the water pump the radiator cap and the thermostat and yet I will have to keep putting in coolant every day or 2 days depending on how much I drive. I know its not the head gasket because there's no milky color to the oil so what else can it be?
It has to be going somewhere.
If you are not leaking it you are burning it, which is likely the head gasket. You don't have to have it getting into the oil - the gasket might just have failed in an area that is allowing coolant into one (or more) of the cylinders.
I agree PMack. Try checking the cooling system for any signs of bubbles when the engine is warm both at idle and whilst revving. Make sure you have the coolant cap off as you bring the engine up to temperature to burning yourself (Never remove the coolant cap at operating temperature).
If you are topping up regulally you do need to add antifreeze to avoid corrosion of engine internals, so I would get to the bottom of this since antifreeze is expensive stuff. Your local garage should 'pressure test' the cooling system at a nominal cost and this may diagnose the problem.
If the head gasket is bad it can leak into the oil or into the cylnder where it is burned and blown out the exausht a simple pressure check can answer all your questions
Don't be so sure about ruling out the head gasket. Remove the radiator cap with the engine cold. Make sure the radiator is topped up to the proper level. Start the engine and carefully look into the radiator. If the fluid level is rising and falling, you've probably got a blown head gasket that is leaking exhaust gasses into the cooling system. Plan on a minimum $500 repair if this is the case. If your cylinder head is in bad need of overhaul and the timing belt needs replacement too, plan on tripling the cost.
You no nothing! Have the cooling system tested for exhaust gasses and then you know it's not a bad headgasket. Do a pressure test to find any leaks. It doesn't evaporate!
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