1999 Malibu with 3100 V6.
1. Engine had head gaskets and lower intake manifold gasket done in September 2006 less than 25,000 miles ago.
2. UOA from three weeks ago showing zero glycol.
3. Cooling system pressure tested in December to 18 psi (factory rated 15 psi). New pressure cap.
4. No white residue in tailpipe or smell of coolant in exhaust.
5. Heater works fine.
The coolant is the infamous Dex-Cool but I think that is unrelated to the issue. In October, I did have a strange occurence where I believe I lost a few ounces (noticable in overflow) of coolant from what seemed to be the water pump seal. It blew out coolant, and I noticed because of steam rising from the corner of the hood, but it was not repeatable and it did not show under pressure testing.
Car has never overheated, and never seen higher than 5/8 of the way through the temperature gauge. Usually sits right in the middle but it does move up in low speed traffic (I do not believe it is buffered).
When I got home tonight, there seemed to be almost a fine bit of steam coming from the same area but it was also quite foggy out, and when I got inside, I opened the hood with the engine running and did not see it.
From Tuesday to Saturday, driving about 250 miles, I used basically from the center seam of the overflow tank down until the point the low coolant light was on when accelerating until the engine was hot. As well, my serpentine belt has been squealing (not like something is stuck but a continuous chirp) like a hot [censored] for a few weeks.
What I am thinking is the water pump seal has gone bad and is trickling coolant out, and some gets onto the belt. There is no coolant on the floor when it sits parked over night, so I am confounded as to where it is going and why.
Hopefully just a water pump, I really do not want to do another gasket job on this car if that is what it is. If the water pump needs changed, I'll have them do the belt, and flush the cooling system completely before filling with G-05.
1. Engine had head gaskets and lower intake manifold gasket done in September 2006 less than 25,000 miles ago.
2. UOA from three weeks ago showing zero glycol.
3. Cooling system pressure tested in December to 18 psi (factory rated 15 psi). New pressure cap.
4. No white residue in tailpipe or smell of coolant in exhaust.
5. Heater works fine.
The coolant is the infamous Dex-Cool but I think that is unrelated to the issue. In October, I did have a strange occurence where I believe I lost a few ounces (noticable in overflow) of coolant from what seemed to be the water pump seal. It blew out coolant, and I noticed because of steam rising from the corner of the hood, but it was not repeatable and it did not show under pressure testing.
Car has never overheated, and never seen higher than 5/8 of the way through the temperature gauge. Usually sits right in the middle but it does move up in low speed traffic (I do not believe it is buffered).
When I got home tonight, there seemed to be almost a fine bit of steam coming from the same area but it was also quite foggy out, and when I got inside, I opened the hood with the engine running and did not see it.
From Tuesday to Saturday, driving about 250 miles, I used basically from the center seam of the overflow tank down until the point the low coolant light was on when accelerating until the engine was hot. As well, my serpentine belt has been squealing (not like something is stuck but a continuous chirp) like a hot [censored] for a few weeks.
What I am thinking is the water pump seal has gone bad and is trickling coolant out, and some gets onto the belt. There is no coolant on the floor when it sits parked over night, so I am confounded as to where it is going and why.
Hopefully just a water pump, I really do not want to do another gasket job on this car if that is what it is. If the water pump needs changed, I'll have them do the belt, and flush the cooling system completely before filling with G-05.
