Bad water pump?

Question

Ok, here's my issue. I'm using a gallon of antifreeze twice a week. I have no idea where's it's going. The most logical answer of course is it's leaking. But we've checked the ground and the engine and not a drop anywhere. Here's what's even stranger. My car thermostat gauge is fine while in motion but as soon as I stop for a traffic light, traffic, etc it the dial starts to rise immediately. 
It shoots up so fast I have to gun the engine to get it to cool down. Any ideas? My mechanic looked at it and he even agreed there doesn't seem to be a leak. Another thing he mentioned is I should put the antifreeze directly in the radiator not the overflow is that right?

Winger · Accepted Answer

I can't think of a scenario where loss of antifreeze and rising engine temperature are linked other than low coolant level, and you don't make it clear whether the radiator is full when the temperature spikes when stopped, or if the radiator is low at that point.  If you know for a fact that the rad is full when the temp spikes then you have a couple of problems so getting to the bottom of this could be tricky.

Let's deal with loss of antifreeze first.  It has to be going somewhere.  if not on the ground or into the crankcase (mixing with the oil) then out the tailpipe.  If it were going into the crankcase, at a couple of gallons a week, you'd surely know by now as you're engine would likely have some serious problems, so it has to be going out the tailpipe which means you have a seriously broken head gasket or crack in the head or engine between the water jacket and the exhaust.  You may not notice the water vapor in the exhaust as it may come out superheated and not visible as steam, but you should be able to detect the odor of antifreeze in the exhaust.  A mechanic can help on this one.  I suggest you try a different one than the one you already went to...

J J · Answer

I have a different take on the problem. I'm willing to bet you have a viscos drive fan and not an electric one. The symptoms fit, You have to rev it up". Your mechanic should have tested it but I think he doesn't know what he is doing. Here is the test. With the engine off but warmed up take your hand and give the fan blade a push, the blade should not freewheel and should only move maybe one or two blades past where you pushed it from. If it freewheels you have the problem. As for the lose of coolant it is evaporating and getting out the reservoir tank. Your radiator cap may be bad and you should have it tested and by all means stop overheating the car it will cause you big money.

dreamtreasure · Answer

Have you checked ur heater core it coukd be leaking. yes you can put it straight into the radator. could try burping the system might have a air pocket. i put the nose of mine on a up slope and let it run till the water cycled pushes the air pocket out

Rudogg · Answer

IT COULD BE A HEAD GASKET, AND THE WATER IS ESCAOPING INTO YOUR ENGINE. CHECK YOUR OIL, IF IT IS THICK AND WHITE AND KINDA STICKY ITS PROLLY YOUR HEAD GASKET. IM NOT A MECHANIC THOUGH AND IF YOUR MECHANIC DIDNT EVEN THINK THAT I WOULD FIND A NEW MECHANIC. GOODLUCK24

Bad water pump?

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