Excessive Coolant Usage
- Thread starter mmuglich
- Start date
berth control
New Member
I have a motor that uses coolant, but it's a different reason than yours. Are you losing it to the bilge or somewhere else? If it's not showing up in the bilge, then you are either burning it or losing it through the heat exchanger. If you are burning it (head gasket, exhaust manifold, intake, ect.) you should be able to tell. You will smell it and see lots of smoke most of the time.
Jimmy Buoy
Well-Known Member
- Dec 3, 2008
- 2,466
- Boat Info
- 2003 Cobalt 293
- Engines
- Twin Volvo-Penta 5.0 270hp & DuoProps
I have been working through the same problem since buying our boat last fall.:smt013
After worrying that my engine was toast, a friend told me to check the heat exchanger (big one just below the air intake) for leaks. It was leaking coolant into the raw water ends and being flushed out through the exhaust so I removed it and took it to the dealer. He took it to a local rad shop to be "repaired" during last winter.:smt101
Lauched the boat this year and the problem persisted, but the flow had dropped to the point where it took a few weeks for me to absolutely see for sure that I was losing coolant.:huh:
Fearing engine problems, I was planning my diagnostic process, when my friend suggested that I make sure the "repair" was not leaking. It still was weeping around the soldered tubes. Not much, but definately a leak.:wow::wow:
So... I bit the bullet and purchased a new $730 exchanger along with new rubber seat seals and thermostat. Just installed them last Saturday, refilled with coolant, and ran the engine up to temp at the dock. No external leaks.:thumbsup:
Went back today (weather's been cold/crappy) to check the level now that the engine is absolutely cold and it was down about 1" from when I filled it. I'm hoping that the system is still purging any air within the system, but if it doesn't stop dropping after a few short cruises, it will be back to the drawing board!:smt009:smt009
None of the classic signs of head gasket/intake gasket leaks either. Engine starts and idles well, runs strong, no white smoke while getting up to temp, no overheating, no obvious oil contamination, no increase in oil level, no signs of water in cylinders either.:smt038
The jury's still out though until a few more runs.
Hope my experience helps.:grin:
After worrying that my engine was toast, a friend told me to check the heat exchanger (big one just below the air intake) for leaks. It was leaking coolant into the raw water ends and being flushed out through the exhaust so I removed it and took it to the dealer. He took it to a local rad shop to be "repaired" during last winter.:smt101
Lauched the boat this year and the problem persisted, but the flow had dropped to the point where it took a few weeks for me to absolutely see for sure that I was losing coolant.:huh:
Fearing engine problems, I was planning my diagnostic process, when my friend suggested that I make sure the "repair" was not leaking. It still was weeping around the soldered tubes. Not much, but definately a leak.:wow::wow:
So... I bit the bullet and purchased a new $730 exchanger along with new rubber seat seals and thermostat. Just installed them last Saturday, refilled with coolant, and ran the engine up to temp at the dock. No external leaks.:thumbsup:
Went back today (weather's been cold/crappy) to check the level now that the engine is absolutely cold and it was down about 1" from when I filled it. I'm hoping that the system is still purging any air within the system, but if it doesn't stop dropping after a few short cruises, it will be back to the drawing board!:smt009:smt009
None of the classic signs of head gasket/intake gasket leaks either. Engine starts and idles well, runs strong, no white smoke while getting up to temp, no overheating, no obvious oil contamination, no increase in oil level, no signs of water in cylinders either.:smt038
The jury's still out though until a few more runs.
Hope my experience helps.:grin: