Well my car has been doing this for a while but now it's really annoying me. about once a week my radiator will be half full and i have to refill it. what i want to know is where my water is or could possibly be going. this all started when i tried to flush my radiator out. i unpluged it and drained it but didn't unplug the engine block. so i tried to refill it and the friggin thing would not take in as much water as it put out. so i drove it around a little while and keep a good eye on it to see if it would work any water into the system. well it did but too much. the plug i unscrewed is tight as can be, no water can be found leaking out of the car, either siting still off or running. the only thing i can think of is there anyway that that much water can be dissapearing out of my exhaust. what i mean is that my car when first started will "fire" out a lot of black stuff that is of a watery substance. i know that some water exits throught the exhaust but i dont' think that much could. anyone got any ideas would be great. the car is a 94 3.4L V6 w/ 178,000 miles. thanx, AJ

 

water evaporates

 

 

I know the 3.1 (3100) and especially the 3.4 (3400) used in the Grand Ams are know for having a lower intake manifold gasket leak. My wife's leaked onlyon the outside. A lot of people's leaks into their engine.

It was due to a poor gasket design although many blame dexcool eventhough it was a problem prior tp dexcool being used and other cars running dexcool don't have this problem, and GM has redesigned the gasket a few times now.

Just something to check.

 

the 3400 does leak there.. however the f-body DOES NOT HAVE A 3400 we have a 3.4L the manifolds are compleetly different

im not saying that it isnt possible, but if it is leaking there its gonna be the first time i have heard of a 3.4L with that problem

 

water doesn't evaporate that friggin quickly. if i wanted smart *** remarks i would have asked for them. i have noticed an a$$ ton of black watery mix even w/ the car jsut sitting. haven't noticed any performance lack though. l8tr

 

calm down goober i was just playin geeese

 

yes they are. nasy nasy leak. the gasket boss around the water outlet cracks and the water goes right into the lifter vally and right into the oil pan. I have see this on 1 fbody v6 but the motor was fuged up anyway.

but to be sure look at your oil. if it looks like a milkshake your in trouble.

Otherwise. water boils at 212, 50/50 mix of antifreze will raise this number. then the presure will raise it further. do you have proper 50/50 mix? is the system holding pressure? if the radiator cap is bad the system will not pressureise and the water can boil inside the motor and there fo "evaporate"

if you come across nothing else have the colant system pressure tested

 

I'm very well aware that they have a 3.4L. I am also very well aware they are both 60* V6's. See the pattern? Might want to think about things a little before you do the roll eyes.

As I said, its just something to check. I noticed YOU didn't have any suggestions to try and help out.


HBH,
Water does boil at 212 in normal atmospheric pressure, but the cooling system is under pressure thus increasing water's BP. Even if the water boils inside the engine it probably won't evaporate, but create steam and a nice hot spot.

 

"HBH,
Water does boil at 212 in normal atmospheric pressure, but the cooling system is under pressure thus increasing water's BP""


I know


Otherwise. water boils at 212, 50/50 mix of antifreze will raise this number. then the presure will raise it further

but what I am saying is, is that if the pressure cap is bad and not holding pressure not on;ly can it boil it can also leak out there. this is a bad bad problem on cavilaers and sunfires, malibues etc etc.

 

Yup, the pressure cap is another problem on the GA's also.

 

if you are so well aware that the 3X00 top end is different then you might realise that the design of the lower intake manifold on the 3.4L is different where the leak occurs, you might want to think a little about telling me to think a little before i roll my eyes

if i didnt let a buddy of mine borrow my 3.4l manifold i would go take some pics of the differences between the manifolds since i have a 3100 manifold in the garage to show what im talking about

and i have no idea whats happening to his water, if he is loosing 1/2 his water a week then he would proabably notice it coming out of the radiator cap, or a leak under his car, and he claims that it has been doing it for a while which would lead me to not suspect a head gasket or a cracked block

but you have an LS1 therefore you must be more knowledgeable