cadillacjeff7777 Posted August 13, 2012 Report Share Posted August 13, 2012 I just got back from about 2,000 trouble free miles on the road yesterday morning. I left in the afternoon to run to Tulsa to get a cord for the kids XBOX. When I left, I noticed that the temp gauge was reading warmer then normal. It got within one line from red but would come back down when the car was moving. I stopped and checked. The cooling fans were running. I went to O'Reilly and got some Dex Cool approved and mixed it 50/50 (I always mix my own. I refuse to pay that much for a half gallon of water). The cooling system took probably 1 - 1.5 gallons to fill the over flow. The overflow was marked with something about being full when hot so I filled her up. The car seems to be fine since. No low coolant messages were displayed on the DIC when this was occurring. Anyone with any thoughts? The car has 79K on the clock now. 2008 DTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Posted August 13, 2012 Report Share Posted August 13, 2012 There is no low coolant warning anymore. That's a lot of coolant to put in at one time. The entire cooling system only hold 12.9 quarts... If you put in 1.5 gal... that's six quarts. It was almost half empty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadcapt Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 uut oooo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 Have the system pressure tested, you may have a leak that will only show under pressure like the radiator end tanks. Do you smell wiffs of coolant under the hood? Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadillacjeff7777 Posted August 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 I only smelled it very lightly outside of the car. 2008 DTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadillacjeff7777 Posted August 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 I looked and didn't see any leaks. I was going to look into checking the coolant for exhaust gas. Isn't there a loan a tool for that? 2008 DTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 I would not jump to conclusions, this is a 2008, I would bet my life that this is NOT related to a head gasket. Pressure testing when cool will expose leaks, there are lots of places it can leak and you will only smell the coolant leak but NOT see it. What happens is that the coolant is under pressure, when it hits the atmosphere it immediately vaporizes and you smell but dont see it. This can happen at the radiator end tanks, crossover seals, coolant tank, water pump body seal, clamps, thermostat housing cover/seal, etc. I would also check the cap to make sure it didnt go bad. You slowly lose coolant with these types of leaks. But if you insist upon checking for combustion gases in the coolant NAPA sells a BLOCK TESTER, I just used it the other day and it confirmed a bad head gasket on a 2000 Eldorado with 65,000 miles on it, it works great and fast, its about $50. You will need to order it from them. Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 You can also get the tool from Autozone and pay only for the testing fluid. about 8 or 10 bucks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadillacjeff7777 Posted August 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 I would not jump to conclusions, this is a 2008, I would bet my life that this is NOT related to a head gasket. I have hoped that it was not a head gasket. I think that it was around 2000 that they changed the threading of the head bolt holes and then again in 2003 which has resolved much of the issues with the head bolts pulling. 2008 DTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 I think the bolts were changed in 2000 and 2004. We are not aware, but I would also hope that the aluminum alloy used for the block was modified in a positive manner. A symptom of a head gasket problem is a cold morning misfire that goes away after a few minutes, the 2000 I inspected did that along with my 96. I think that because you are smelling coolant, its an external leak, relax and do some pressure testing, its probably a leak, cap, seal, etc Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadillacjeff7777 Posted August 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 There is no low coolant warning anymore. Why on earth would they not include a "Low coolant" warning anymore? 2008 DTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 There is no low coolant warning anymore. Why on earth would they not include a "Low coolant" warning anymore? I don't know... and I think they also did away with the "LOW OIL LEVEL" warning.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 There is no low coolant warning anymore. Why on earth would they not include a "Low coolant" warning anymore? Typical cost cutting measures.... Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 thats ridiculous. Oh wait if it fails then you find out it costs more. Sounds right in todays standards. I still dont like the coolant temperature gauge on the needle cluster. I would rather know exact than to know that the needle is in the middle. With no numbers at all. So basically half is good. GM FAN FOREVER Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.