2000 Buick Regal coolant leak (blown gasket?)

Tiny
BALINSTEADT
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 BUICK REGAL
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
I have a 2000 Buick Regal and the coolant leaks.I have considered a blown head gasket however, there is no coolant in the oil, no oil in the coolant, and there is no steam or water exiting the tailpipe. Some time ago the car started overheating so I replaced the water pump, thermostat and did a flush job. After that the car started loosing coolant very slowly. The vanishing of coolant was minimal till a week ago when I overheated in traffic. Now I have to add nearly a half a bottle of coolant everyday. If there isn't oil in the coolant and there isn't coolant in the oil then its probably not a head gasket right? I would like to do the work myself but I'm at a loss. I cant find the leak although daily there is a puddle on the driveway, and I don't want to put my amateur skills to the test by taking my motor apart to the block, just to find out that my motor has new head gaskets but the same problem it had before I spent the weekend elbow deep in grease. If I replace all the gaskets from the intake manifold to the head will I likely fix my issue regardless if it is or is not the head gaskets? Is it worth the effort? Or should I pay the 1-2k it will probably take to have it fixed by a professional? I can tell you that the leak is not coming from the radiator, hoses, water pump(brand new) or heater core. Maybe one of you has a good way to find a leak? Ive thought about dousing my engine in baby powder. Lol. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Monday, June 22nd, 2009 AT 12:10 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,179 POSTS
You can try a few things. THe cheapest and easiest is to put cardboard under the car to try to idendify where the leak is coming from. Also, you can pressure test the cooling system and then check for leaks. Finally, you can purchase a dye that is placed into the radiator. Drive the car and then check for the leak with a black light.

Here is a guide

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-is-leaking-coolant

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Let me know what you find. And also, replacing all of the parts you mentioned may do exactly what you said. It may leave you with still having a leak because it wasn't the problem. Try to identify its location before taking it to some guy that is going to charge you 1 or 2K when it may be a 50 cent fix.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Joe
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Saturday, June 27th, 2009 AT 6:49 PM
Tiny
HANK10
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
The intake manifold by the EGR valve has been compromised as there is a water jacket that cools the EGR valve
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Monday, October 16th, 2017 AT 6:16 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,895 POSTS
No coolant is close to the EGR valve.

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken
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Tuesday, October 17th, 2017 AT 6:05 PM

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