QuestionI have a 1987 Buick Riviera with the 3.8 V6. Lately, I have had to put extra coolant in the recovery coolant plastic tank. About every 5 weeks or so I have to put about 2 to 4 cups in the tank.
Not much but never had to do this that often and have had the car for 11 years. The car is driven 35 highway miles a day every day pretty much. When the AC or heater is on I smell nothing odd and the car is heating up as it should and not overheating or anything. A new radiator and coolant was put in last summer. Maybe the shop used much more water than coolant in the mix? The car has about 120,000 miles on it I guess since the electronic dash is out again and I don't want to spend $800 or so to fix it. I am thinking the so called intake manifold gaskets are going? Thx!
AnswerHello Jack,
If there is never any coolant leaking on the ground, then it is somehow going into the engine and out the exhaust.
There are only a couple possibilities.
The intake manifold gaskets, or a head gasket.
Cracked head or cracked block are also possible, but doubtful.
I doubt the head gasket also, since that would usually cause overheating, and blowing out of the coolant.
The intake manifold gasket is the most likely cause, with your symptoms.
Van
