1996 Oldsmbile 88 Coolant Problem Reemerges
RookWins
08-06-2007, 09:04 PM
1996 Oldsmobile 88 115,000 miles
I noticed that my coolant reservoir tank was emptying at a rate about once every month, then once every week, and I was only driving 30 miles a week. I finally got tired of refilling it after 3 months and took off the engine cover, well there was coolant puddled on the upper manifold. I had a friend take a look at it and he changed the upper intake manifold, a plastic elbow 2 inch pipe by the steering belt, he also changed the water pump, reservoir tank, and pulley tensioner. Now some of this was overkill, but I already had the parts. Anyway, the engine temperature has never risen to more than a little bit over half, maybe 60/100. I drove the car on a road trip 250 miles after the repairs, no problem, I've driven it 3 to 4 days a week for the past month, 15 miles/trip. It sometimes guzzles down the entire coolant reservoir like it did today but usually it goes down by about an inch on a 15 mile drive, stop and go. When I park the car I see no puddles or coolant dripping from anywhere. I do see some moisture possibly coolant on the driver's side of the engine. I sometimes here a low squeel, possibly the belt??, but the belt looks in good condition. I've read several threads that have the speak about the same problem. Where is the coolant going? Is it being burned up in the engine? And how long until it dies? Thankfully, I don't need to drive far, and I won't be able to pay for major repairs probably until 2 months. By then I might lease a new car because this headache that all these 1996 olds 88 give there owners is not worth it.
Thanks for any input.
I noticed that my coolant reservoir tank was emptying at a rate about once every month, then once every week, and I was only driving 30 miles a week. I finally got tired of refilling it after 3 months and took off the engine cover, well there was coolant puddled on the upper manifold. I had a friend take a look at it and he changed the upper intake manifold, a plastic elbow 2 inch pipe by the steering belt, he also changed the water pump, reservoir tank, and pulley tensioner. Now some of this was overkill, but I already had the parts. Anyway, the engine temperature has never risen to more than a little bit over half, maybe 60/100. I drove the car on a road trip 250 miles after the repairs, no problem, I've driven it 3 to 4 days a week for the past month, 15 miles/trip. It sometimes guzzles down the entire coolant reservoir like it did today but usually it goes down by about an inch on a 15 mile drive, stop and go. When I park the car I see no puddles or coolant dripping from anywhere. I do see some moisture possibly coolant on the driver's side of the engine. I sometimes here a low squeel, possibly the belt??, but the belt looks in good condition. I've read several threads that have the speak about the same problem. Where is the coolant going? Is it being burned up in the engine? And how long until it dies? Thankfully, I don't need to drive far, and I won't be able to pay for major repairs probably until 2 months. By then I might lease a new car because this headache that all these 1996 olds 88 give there owners is not worth it.
Thanks for any input.
RookWins
08-06-2007, 10:03 PM
sorry
3800 Series II, Vin K, not supercharged, manual transmission
3800 Series II, Vin K, not supercharged, manual transmission
auto trainy
08-08-2007, 07:48 PM
Pressure test it or have it done,I did'nt know they made a standard trans for that car (my ignorance)
RookWins
08-08-2007, 08:35 PM
Really? Pressure test it? Sorry for my ignorance. Hopefully somebody else has a better answer, like what a pressure test might find, where is it most likely that a leak will be found. Anyway, the car died today, and it is being by a professional mechanic, I'll post what he finds for those of you who might be having a similar problem and not for those know-it-alls like the previous person.
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