For those of you with coolant loss issues.

[medicz28]

If you are having coolant loss issues and can't find the source like I was having, you may want to check the plastic heater 'T' next to the firewall, passenger side. Every time I turned on the heater I would loss coolant with no avail to the where abouts of the source. It turned out to be the 'T', it was so small I didn't notice any collant pooling, until the T broke in half going down the interstate. two hours and 27$ later it was fixed. So check your T, it could save you being stranded on the highway.

[HUF]

The T is a known source of coolant leak. Plastic develops tiny cracks and you can see the coolant only when you increase (manually) RPMs till say 3000. That's how I found out my T was bad.

Thanks for bringing it up.

[Brizzal]

yep ive had the same problems.... went threw 3 Ts in 6 months. im still losing coolant somehow and my coolant resivour doesnt pull any coolant in the radiator, i dont know why...

[Edahall]

They must have cheapened the T on the newer models. My 88 Eldorado has a T made of steel and it's still fine.

[SlxAlxx]

The "T" on my 4.5 was fine. It was the water control valve that kept leaking.

[HUF]

Originally Posted by Brizzal

yep ive had the same problems.... went threw 3 Ts in 6 months. im still losing coolant somehow and my coolant resivour doesnt pull any coolant in the radiator, i dont know why...

The hose running from the reservoire to the radiator neck is likely plugged with coolant supplement or something. Check it out. You may have halempty radiator and will not even know that. The radiator cap may need replacement as well.

[medicz28]

When it rains it pours! Now that my T is fixed I found a tiny crack in the front of the rad.. I guess it's to be epected with a 15 y/o car.

[HUF]

Originally Posted by medicz28

When it rains it pours! Now that my T is fixed I found a tiny crack in the front of the rad.. I guess it's to be epected with a 15 y/o car.

You probably mean a plastic side end tank. Yep, they fail. Get an aftermarket all metall radiator for some $150 and replace. Not a big deal, really.

[medicz28]

Thanks for the reply, not really worried about it, it's just one thing after another.

[General_Motors_Fan]

Appreciate the info. I was losing coolant too and mine was from loose small bolts on the front of the engine. Not really sure what the bolts are for, looks like some kind of plate or cover, but after tightening the coolant loss has almost stopped. Couldn't find the leak, but like HUF has mentioned, high steady revs while watching under the hood found it.

Anybody else out there ever have this kind of problem?

I'm going to double check the T also.

Bill

[noahsdad]

Originally Posted by General_Motors_Fan

Appreciate the info. I was losing coolant too and mine was from loose small bolts on the front of the engine. Not really sure what the bolts are for, looks like some kind of plate or cover, but after tightening the coolant loss has almost stopped. Couldn't find the leak, but like HUF has mentioned, high steady revs while watching under the hood found it.

Anybody else out there ever have this kind of problem?

I'm going to double check the T also.

Bill

The water pump on the 4.X series engines is a wafer thin plate held on by 18 fasteners of various sizes. Most are small (10mm as I recall) bolts and nut/stud combinations. They are very sensitive to correct torque. If someone replaced the pump and tightened the bolts by 'feel,' some of them are bound to vibrate loose and leak.

[behind-bars]

Originally Posted by General_Motors_Fan

I'm going to double check the T also.

Bill

Dont just double check it, Replace the POS lol.

I did a full coolant flush including heater core just before it got cold (about 5 weeks ago) I spent the other night in the 30 degree rain working by the light from the headlights replacing my T in the middle of a parking lot cause it snapped in half and blew coolant all over the engine bay.

When i did the flush i checked the T and it had no signs or cracks or weakness, the other night it fell apart in my hands.

I have had the T go in both my 93 devilles, both times i wasnt at home either lol.

[HUF]

Originally Posted by behind-bars

Dont just double check it, Replace the POS lol.

I did a full coolant flush including heater core just before it got cold (about 5 weeks ago) I spent the other night in the 30 degree rain working by the light from the headlights replacing my T in the middle of a parking lot cause it snapped in half and blew coolant all over the engine bay.

When i did the flush i checked the T and it had no signs or cracks or weakness, the other night it fell apart in my hands.

I have had the T go in both my 93 devilles, both times i wasnt at home either lol.

Wow. Never heard of thermostats falling apart...

[ehall]

he's referring to the T-shaped pipe by the heater control valve

[HUF]

Originally Posted by ehall

he's referring to the T-shaped pipe by the heater control valve

Oh, I see. Thanks.