Any Mechanics Out There??

[homer]

Hello Mechanics!

First of all I just want to say Thanks in advance for any help/guidance you can offer me! I have a GM Minivan (2002 Venture) so I know it uses the Dexcool antifreeze and has had the intake manifold gasket replaced. The other day I noticed a small patch of liquid on the driveway under the front bumper passenger side. It looks like it might be green, and slowly dripping from that side of the radiator. I may be way off on this, but if it's antifreeze, shouldn't it be pink (dexcool?)? I don't see any other fluids this colour anywhere. If there is a slight rad leak, does anyone have any opinions on the stuff they sell at C Tire called leak stop (I think). If the leak persists I'm taking it to my neighbourhoood shop that I really trust, but if it's not necessary I won't... Thanks again for any advice,

Homer ( and I'll never buy another GM minivan again)

 

[calloway]

I would think it has to be one of the following... washer fluid... a rad leak or transmission fluid.

 

[james t kirk]

GM has had MASSIVE problems with their cheap designs.

The intake manifold gasket of the 3.1 and 3.4 is notorious for failure. There are several class action lawsuits out there right now, but generally speaking, this is a waste of time because the lawyers will take all the money and you will never see a dime.

My old GM (97 Buick Park Ave) with a 3.8 litre V-6 suffered from the dreaded cracked plastic intake manifold at 122,000 km resulting in the crank case being flooded with coolant resulting in catastrophic big end bearing failure resulting in me needing a new engine, resulting in me paying $4,500 for a used engine, resulting in me suing GM in small claims court, resulting in me eventually dumping the car and buying my first ever Japanese car.

Phew.

My advice - dump your P.O.S. GM while it's worth more than scrap iron value and buy something new.

BTW, Dexcool is orange, not pink. That's not to say that if your coolant was changed that they didn't put the old fashioned green stuff in there.

Open your rad (when cool) and see if you have the orange stuff, or green stuff. Assuming that the levels haven't dropped right down.

 

[Keebler Elf]

Did you win at small claims court?

 

[james t kirk]

Did you win at small claims court?

They settled with me before we even went to court.

Initially, they offered me 800 bucks as a result of the letter writing campaign I initiated.

I refused that. They said tough shit, sue us. So I did.

When we got to court, I was after the full $4,500.00

I can't reveal the amount of the settlement due to a confidentiality agreement I had to sign, however, I can say that it was a hell of a lot closer to $4,500 than 800 ever was.

I ended up donating half to charity. (Long story.)

I felt like I copped out by not going the distance, however, I didn't want to make chasing GM through the courts my mission in life.

Strangely enough, the GM lawyer (who once we settled turned off the attack dog mode) seemed most interested in keeping me as a GM customer.

My parents always bought GM. I had driven GM's as my day to day drivers since buying my first car, but after that BS, and them treating me like a POS, that was it.

Ironically, if when the problem first happened, GM had of just said to me, "buddy, we know we have a design fuck up here, we'll pay for half" or something like that, I'd probably have bought another GM in April of 2005. Instead, I'll never buy another GM again. GM's loss is Infiniti's gain.

 

[Cassini]

It is not uncommon for the rad hoses to start leaking after a major engine repair, particularly if the hoses were moved or removed during the repair.

I would be very suspicious about a cooling leak. I have seen this problem several times, and unfortunately the plastic intake manifold problem too. You might also want to watch out for a cracked cooling pump or a leaky/damaged radiator.

 

[The Mechanic]

Dex-cool is orange in colour Prestone is green windshield fluid is usually blue -35 and green for -40 Celsius. Rred and oily is auto transmission or power steering fluid Check your levels will tell you what is leaking and oh but the way the taste test if it is SWEET it is anti freeze some people use it to sweeten they wines over in Europe which is why they go BLIND too much and to sweet!

 

[danmand]

Dex-cool is orange in colour Prestone is green windshield fluid is usually blue -35 and green for -40 Celsius red and oily is auto transmission or power steering fluid Check your levels will tell you what is leaking and oh but the way the taste test if it is SWEET it is anti freeze some people use it to sweeten they wines over in Europe which is why they go BLIND too much and to sweet!

Isn't power steering and transmission fluid red? Green usually indicates coolant, but I don't know the Dexcool.

 

[The Mechanic]

Isn't power steering and transmission fluid red?[/qyes it isuote]


yes it is

 

[osanowo]

Green, sticky fluid is coolant.
Bluish, watery liquid is windshield wiper fluid.
Honey- or dark-colored, greasy fluid is engine oil.
Honey- or dark-colored thick fluid with a chestnut smell is gear oil.
Clear or yellowish liquid with a very slippery consistency is brake fluid.
Slippery reddish fluid is automatic transmission or power steering fluid.

Hope that helps - knowing that color can be altered by the condition of your vehicle...

 

[proinspector69]

Homer

STOP leak MAY stop the leak BUTTTTT It is a plug agent. It also will plug some of the tubes in the radiator and your system will then run hotter especially in stop and go and warmer weather.. Its a cheap fix that will cost bigger bucks in the long run.. re cracked heads due to overheating.. Trial and replace mechanics who will miss the real problem of a pluuged rad that will probably be the last thing they will fix after rpelacing heads, thermostat.. etc

Since you had the intake maifold gasket replaced I can only assume they replaced the prestone since they would have drained the system and have replaced it with a diff but compatable brand.. assuption made here.. Also make sure that you have a rad leak and not a water pump starting to go with the fluid running down the rad hose to the rad.. If you are inclined mechanically you can verify this by running the engine to warm it up.. shut it off then crawl underneath .. if you are not get a Pro ( someone you trust to inspect..

Yes I am a mechanic.. and I strongly emphazie with the public.. there are so many rip off artists out there.. buyer be aware.

 

[osanowo]

MacGyver once used egg white to fix a radiator leak.

 

[hunter001]

MacGyver once used egg white to fix a radiator leak.

They used a egg on Mythbusters as well. It worked.

 

[homer]

Thanks

Wow!

Thanks for all the good advice! I checked and It turned out to be a problem with my A/C. thankfully not the antifreeze/rad.