I've been driving around my car for about three weeks now (been park for about a year do to other things going on in my life). I've bought almost everything there is to by for the cooling system. New water pump, thermastat, radiator cap and two flushes.

To get to the question. I'll put water in the reservior, some water in the radiator. I'll drive around for about 3 days, check it a couple of times every single day, not one problem, water not disappearing or nothing. Then like on every fourth day (give or take a day) half the water in the radiator will be gone and the reservoir stays full. Been doing this for about three weeks now.

There's no no water coming out of the reservoir or engine. Runs cool, no overheating, no signs of rusty or gummed up junk in the oil, no white smoke or sweet smell from the tail pipes.

The thing is my friend who is a mechanic for a shop did a compression test on my radiator and I guess the cooling system and found no leaks.

I also thought it might be a very small leak so I looked and look but no sign and then I thought maybe a small leak in the head gasket. But then I thinking, thats way to much water that I already put in the cooling system and probably should have been showing by now.

So how long does it take to show evidence of a blown head gasket. Thanks peeps for helping me out.

 

You will want to do a couple of things. First check the floor at the passenger side by pulling the top of the carpet back and check for a leaking heater core. I doubt it's leaking since the pressure test didn't show anything.

While everything is cold fill the radiator to the top with 50/50 and be sure the resevoir is full with 50/50. Close the cooling system.

Let the engine run till the fans come on. Near the thermostat is 2 bleeders, open them very slowly (put safety glasses on) until coolant comes out. Once coolant comes out close them. If you have them open for long and no coolant comes out then you have to close them. The system is air bound. Let the system cool down and refill the radiator. Once you have the correct level. The bleeding method will get out what little air is left.

As far as the head gasket leaking, That can be checked a few different ways depending on where it's leaking. If it's leaking the volume your talking about, it would show up in the oil visually. It would most assuredly lock a cylinder if it were running into one so that probably isn't it. There are some leaks that are external but never reach the ground since it needs pressure to leak and when it has pressure, the block is hot and the coolant gets burned off as it runs down the block. Some intake leaks are that way. Again it wold have showed up with the coolant pressure test though.

A leaking head gasket can be checked by compression test sometime. By a leakdown test some time. By checking vacuum level sometime and by checking crankcase vacuum level. But again, based on what you tell us, I think it is just a level problem. Keep a close watch on your oil. This is the worst leak you could have.

Try the above and see what happens

Sorry long

 

Thanks Rodrigez

I'm giong to do what you said.

 

Jesus that sounds like a lot of work.