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United Tire and Service News

Why Does My Engine Coolant Keep Disappearing?

7/30/2020 11:24:00 AM | (32852) View Count | Return
When your car’s coolant is where it should be, it’s traveling on a perpetual loop from your engine to your radiator and back, keeping your system cool as it does so. If it’s going anywhere else, you’ve got a cooling system issue on your hands. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to spot an obvious leak or another issue, but other times your coolant can seem as if it’s disappearing into thin air instead. If that’s been happening to you, be sure to try the following.

Check for Leakage

Sometimes telltale signs like steam under the hood or suspicious drips on your garage floor make it semi-obvious that you’re dealing with a coolant leak, but notwhy does my engine coolant keep disappearing always. Disappearing engine coolant could be the result of a slightly cracked hose, a tiny hole in your radiator, or a water pump issue. It’s also possible for a coolant leak to develop inside your vehicle or to simply vaporize into mist via your defroster.
Look for evidence of a coolant leak first thing in the morning after your car’s been parked a while. Look for puddles or drips on the ground underneath the hood area of your car. If you find any liquid that looks and smells like coolant, open your car’s hood and visually inspect the parts located directly above, including the hoses leading to and from your radiator. Check the underside of your radiator for dampness as well.

Inspect Your Reservoir Cap

If you can’t find obvious evidence of leakage, a faulty reservoir cap could be the issue. Your radiator cap helps control pressure within your cooling system by redirecting some of your coolant into an overflow tank. If the cap goes bad or develops issues, it can release too much coolant too quickly, leading to an overflowing reservoir and mysteriously disappearing engine coolant. Look for the following signs:
  • Radiator hoses that have collapsed or ruptured
  • White streaks on your radiator (caused by coolant that’s leaked and then dried)
  • A reservoir that’s overflowing or otherwise isn’t functioning properly
  • An overheating engine

Inspect Your Head Gasket

If your engine’s been overheating, it can lead to issues with your head gaskets. Head gaskets that have blown or otherwise gone bad can allow coolant to enter your cylinders and be lost through your exhaust system. Signs that this may be happening include:
  • Oil with a white, cloudy, or milky look to it
  • Watery leakage from your tailpipe
  • White smoke coming out of your tailpipe
  • A bubbling effect in your coolant reservoir, radiator, or both
  • Engine power loss (a possible result of low cylinder compression)
  • An overheating engine
  • Other issues that can make you ask “why does my engine coolant keep disappearing” include radiator blockages and other problems that could prevent optimal flow throughout your cooling system.

Keep a Close Eye on Your Coolant

Whether or not you think you currently have an issue with your cooling system, it’s important to keep a close eye on your coolant levels at all times and ensure they stay at optimal levels. Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for service recommendations, including coolant flushes, and follow them to the letter. This will ensure issues are spotted as early as possible, hopefully long before they have a chance to evolve into larger problems and costly repairs.

Contact Our Team 

If your cooling system is in need of service or maintenance, the team at United Tire & Service can assist you. Feel free to call one of our 12 locations or schedule your next appointment online. 

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Auto Repair 101

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