Suzuki: 94 Sidekick, cylinder head gasket, radiator cap

Question
Hi David, I read your answer dated 3/26/2007. I am not sure if you still remember that, but anyway I have almost the same issue on my car. But I will tell you mine, first I observed that there was coolant on the floor every time I park my car after running it for a while, it's like dripping so i checked it out right away and it was from the reservoir hose going out and it's full. After couples of hours I checked the radiator cap and it's empty. So I added coolant and drove it again. What I've done so far is replaced the thermostat and radiator cap and flushed it and changed coolant. But it still have same problem, coolant from radiator are empty so I checked for leak but there are no leaks. every time i rev the engine I saw the reservoir boiling coolant a bit and then it's gone. If you will ask if the engine overheat it doesn't overheat the gauge stays normal. Sometimes I see a little bit smoke from my tail pipe and water dripping even though engine is warm up already. I hope you can give me some advise, it might be cylinder head gasket but i still want your advise. Thank you and hope to see your reply soon.

Answer
You need to see a competent technician to see if there is a possible head gasket or cylinder head problem.

If the gasket is leaking a little the hundred plus pound pressure from combustion could be displacing coolant in a system that has a 15 pound cap.  That would push coolant out.

How to tell?  Does the cooling system build pressure before the cylinder head is warm to the touch?

Start there, and consult a local technician.

OR try the shopfinder on the first page of iatn.net